A 29 year old man charged in a meth case last September received a fourteen year prison sentence in DeKalb County Criminal Court Tuesday.
Judge Gary McKenzie presided.
Brandon Keith Thomas of Sparta Highway, Smithville pled guilty to initiation of a process to manufacture methamphetamine and two violations of probation. He received an eight year sentence to serve in the meth case to run concurrently with an eight year sentence for one of the violations of probation. But the eight year term is to run consecutively with a six year sentence for the other violation of probation putting the total sentence at fourteen years. He was given 136 days of jail credit.
Thomas was one of three people involved in the case. Both he and 40 year old Shawn Renee Gibson of McMinnville were each charged with initiation of a process to manufacture methamphetamine. Thomas’ mother, 54 year old Sharon Renee Thomas of Sparta Highway Smithville was charged with promotion of the manufacture of meth. The cases against both Gibson and Sharon Thomas remain pending in court.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Saturday, September 20, 2014 a deputy received a tip of a possible meth lab at a residence on the Sparta Highway. Upon arrival, the deputy found the back door open and he saw Brandon Thomas inside shaking a bottle. Gibson was sitting on a bed in the room watching Thomas. The officer watched for several minutes until someone inside closed the door. The deputy then approached the home, knocked on the door, and heard a man inside say “it’s the cops”. When the back door was opened the deputy saw Brandon running out the front door. The officer called for Thomas to stop but he did not. The deputy went after Thomas and caught him in the front yard. Thomas admitted that everything in the house belonged to him and he gave consent for the officer to search. Inside Thomas and Gibson’s room, the deputy found draino, cold packs, Coleman fuel, muriatic acid, tubing and tubing with a bottle cap, coffee filters, an electric grinder, empty Claritin-D blister packs, a plastic bottle with muriatic acid, pliers, wire cutters, and digital scales.
Thomas then led the officer outside and showed him where he had disposed of a one pot cook bottle. Thomas confessed to manufacturing meth and he was placed under arrest. Gibson was also taken into custody. After being read her rights, Gibson allegedly admitted to knowing that meth was being made in the residence and participating by shaking the one pot cook bottle. In addition to the meth charge, Gibson was further issued a citation for simple possession and possession of drug paraphernalia after she was found with two valiums, two hypodermic needles, and a half ounce of marijuana.
After her son was arrested, Sharon Thomas was brought to the sheriff’s department for questioning where she admitted to purchasing Pseudoephedrine on three occasions for the purpose of her son being able to manufacture meth. She was then placed under arrest.
Meanwhile in a separate case, 24 year old Christopher Prince pled guilty to sale of a schedule II drug and received a three year sentence, suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000. He is seeking judicial diversion if eligible. Prince was charged in a grand jury indictment as the result of an undercover drug investigation by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.

From the credible medical fiction DeKalb County writer, Dr. Barbara Ebel, the third Dr. Danny Tilson novel – Collateral Circulation: a Medical Mystery – makes its debut!
Tennessee neurosurgeon, Danny Tilson, is again mixed up in a baffling mystery that may be too good to be true, especially since it involves the enhanced development of the human brain. Wouldn’t exceptional IQs, coordination, eyesight and a host of other improvements benefit all of humanity? Danny thinks so but why is he skeptical after more and more patients are diagnosed with increased brain vasculature and advanced mental faculties?
“Besides Dr. Tilson’s focused attention on his surprising neurosurgical patients,” Ebel mentions, “his life continues to be plagued by Rachel, the mother of one of his children from an extra-marital affair. This time, she also plays a crucial role in the ongoing medical puzzle. None of the series’ novels are complete without her and this time both Rachel’s and Danny’s character development goes deeper than ever.”
The Midwest Book Review states: “This third addition to the Danny Tilson medical mystery series won’t disappoint either old fans or newcomers who love medical intrigue a la Robin Cook and the best medical writers in the genre. Perhaps that’s because it comes from the seasoned hand of a physician who is steeped in the world of medical description and events and whose professional pen thus effortlessly describes such scenarios.
“Contemporary and wide-ranging in scope, Collateral Circulation provides yet another powerful Danny Tilson medical mystery/thriller; and while it stands firmly alone and requires no prior introduction to its predecessors in order to prove satisfying, it’s safe to say newcomers will want to go back to the other books in the series for further character insights and adventure.”
Doctor Barbara’s Danny Tilson novels can each stand-alone but are best enjoyed by reading them in succession. Book One is Operation Neurosurgeon and Book Two is Silent Fear, a Medical Mystery. It has been by popular demand and rankings that she continues with her vivid characters and sequels. Silent Fear has received a stipend to become an audio book as well.
Barbara Ebel’s series takes place in Tennessee, where she lives in a protected wildlife corridor with her husband and pets. She has also written and illustrated a children’s book series about her therapy dog titled Chester the Chesapeake, another novel – Outcome, a Novel – and a health book, Younger Next Decade.
“Collateral Circulation” can be found as an eBook on Amazon.com, B&N Nook, KOBO and most online retailers. It is also a paperback on Amazon.com and will be available like her other books on Overdrive, etc. for major libraries.
Please visit the author and her books, links, reviews, awards and videos at: http://barbaraebel.weebly.com.

A three judge panel of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a federal judge’s dismissal of a lawsuit on the trial court level against the DeKalb County Election Commission and several others in Tennessee brought in 2009 by former administrators of elections who claim they did not get to keep their jobs for political reasons.
Nashville Attorney John Harris, III, who represents the DeKalb County Election Commission in this case, told WJLE Monday that this is good news for the election commission. “Last week, we received an opinion from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals affirming the federal trial court’s initial decision that a Tennessee Administrator of Elections at the county election commission level is a position that can be terminated or even hired based upon political party affiliation. The significance of that is it means that if the plaintiffs in the case were correct in alleging that in 2009 they were terminated or not rehired because of their affiliation with the Democratic party, the 6th Circuit and the federal court hearing the case have now said that’s okay because the positions (administrators of elections) are political enough in nature that it is reasonable for the election commissions to consider party affiliation in making their employment decisions,” said Harris.
Former DeKalb County Election Administrator Lisa Peterson and other former administrators filed the lawsuit in July 2009 against the defendant county election commissions, claiming that their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated when they were removed from their jobs because of their actual, or perceived, political party association. The former administrators asked the court to order their reinstatement, or in the alternative, order that they receive front pay for a reasonable amount of time. They wanted full back pay and a judgment for compensatory damages and punitive damages and an award for reasonable attorneys fees. Locally, the lawsuit named as defendants the three Republicans on the DeKalb County Election Commission James Dean, Walteen Parker, and Barbara Vanatta.
In February 2014, U.S. District Judge Kevin H. Sharp dismissed the case in favor of the election commissioners. The plaintiffs then appealed the case to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals as to whether the federal court’s ruling that the position of administrator of elections is a job under Tennessee law that has sufficient political significance that the individuals holding that position can be selected or deselected or fired based upon their party affiliation.
According to Harris, the plaintiffs are now basically left with two options should they want to pursue the case. They could ask for a review by the entire body of the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals or file an appeal to the U.S Supreme Court seeking to overturn the federal court’s ruling that the position of Administrator of Elections is subject to political patronage. “The plaintiffs could now ask that the entire 6th Circuit reconsider the decision. That’s called an “ENBANC” request and it is discretionary. It has to be enough of the panel who think the three judges who decided the case made an error that they would want to reopen that can of worms so to speak. Alternatively, the plaintiffs could ask the United States Supreme Court to reconsider this ruling and take it up as a case in the court’s discretion. Again, it may be a situation where although that right technically exists there just may not be enough interest in it nationally to pursue it. But one of those (options) would have to occur within the next sixty days,” said Harris.

Members of the DeKalb County Fire Department recently partnered with Smithville Head Start to provide cleanup services to the playground.
Brent Reed, Wayne Johnson, Shawn Chausse, Mark Johnson, and Chris Mulford all volunteered their time to help with the Head Start’s playground.
They provided services such as raking of leaves, washing of equipment, filling of sand, painting of equipment as well as chopping up roots and filling any holes.

A Dowelltown man who allegedly used a family member’s debit card on five occasions in November has been charged with five counts of fraudulent use of a debit or credit card.
31 year old Ryan Lee Walden of Dale Ridge Road is under a $17,500 bond. He was arrested on January 26.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that Walden allegedly used the debit card of a family member at a local bank to withdraw $500 on November 8 & 9, and $200 on November 11. Two days later, on November 13, Walden allegedly used a family member’s debit card to purchase gas at a convenience store on South Congress Boulevard, Smithville in amounts of $40.03 and $28.00.
Sheriff Ray said these transactions occurred without the family member’s consent.
27 year old Philando Darnell Fullilove of Shady Lane, Alexandria is charged in a Grand Jury sealed indictment with two counts of sale and delivery of a schedule II drug. His bond is $60,000 and he will be arraigned in criminal court on February 3. He was arrested on January 30.
35 year old Aubrey Glenn Rigsby of Bethel Road, Smithville is cited for possession of drug paraphernalia and simple possession of a schedule VI drug (marijuana). Sheriff Ray said that a deputy stopped a vehicle which matched the description of one that left the scene of a fight. The driver, Rigsby was arrested on outstanding warrants unrelated to this incident. While searching the vehicle, the officer found a small pack which contained spoons, needles, and straws along with .035 ounces of marijuana.
34 year old Martha Conger Hale of Charity Street, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. She was further cited because her vehicle had a headlight out and for violation of the implied consent law. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court March 26. Sheriff Ray said that on January 31 a deputy saw a black jeep driving on Sparta Highway with its headlight out. After stopping the vehicle, the officer spoke with the driver, Hale. Her eyes were bloodshot and she had an odor of alcohol coming from her person. Hale allegedly admitted to drinking during the day. Hale performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. She refused to submit to a blood test. Hale was placed under arrest.
22 year old Joseph Matthew Giles, II. of Jefferson Road, Smithville is charged with theft of property under $500. His bond is $2,500 and he will appear in court February 12. He was arrested on January 31. Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, January 22 Giles allegedly took a PlayStation 2 and games valued at $435 from a residence on Jefferson Road and then tried to sell them through a McMinnville on-line yard sale site for $50. The victim reported that the PlayStation was a family gift that was to remain in the home.
33 year old James Travis Adams of Tims Ways Drive, Lebanon is charged with driving under the influence and three counts of reckless endangerment for having his three children in the vehicle with him. Adams was further issued a citation for driving on roadways laned for traffic. His bond is $6,000 and he will appear in court March 26. Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, February 1 a deputy was patrolling in his cruiser when he saw a red Jeep approaching him in the opposite lane. The Jeep crossed the center line of the highway and almost hit the patrol car head on. The officer turned around, got behind the Jeep, and observed it cross the center line again several times. The deputy stopped the Jeep and spoke with the driver, Adams who had an odor of alcohol on his person. His speech was also slurred. Adams’ daughters ages 10 and 7, and his 6 year old son were passengers in the Jeep with him. Adams, who admitted to drinking, performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He also submitted to a blood test and was placed under arrest. Adams was charged with three counts of reckless endangerment for having his children in the vehicle with him while he was under the influence, putting their lives in danger.
35 year old David Allen Sloan of Tramel Branch Road, Alexandria is charged with driving under the influence. He was further issued a citation for failure to maintain lane of travel and violation of the implied consent law. He will be in court February 26. Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, February 1 a deputy was patrolling on Highway 70 east when he saw a black Nissan swerving in and out of its lane. The officer stopped the car and spoke with the driver, Sloan who had a strong odor of alcohol on his person. His eyes were bloodshot and his speech was slurred. Sloan performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Sloan refused to submit to a blood test. He admitted to drinking and was placed under arrest.
35 year old Anthony Malcolm Sargent of Meridian Drive, Smithville is charged with possession of a handgun while under the influence. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court February 26. Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, February 2 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Meridian Drive due to a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, the officer heard a voice coming from the tree line behind the home. The deputy checked and found Sargent sitting in the tree line. Sargent had a strong odor of alcohol on his person and he was staggering. The officer found an alcoholic beverage and a Raven Arms 25 caliber handgun where Sargent had been sitting. The gun was loaded with four rounds and one in the chamber. Sargent admitted to drinking and he was placed under arrest.