Members of the DeKalb County Grand Jury conducted a tour of the Jail Monday and filed a complimentary report as to its operation.
The reports states that “The DeKalb County Grand Jury met on Monday, November 25 to review cases presented. After the jurors were sworn in they were invited to tour the DeKalb County Jail. The group was greeted by Sheriff Patrick Ray to conduct the tour”.
“The jurors were particularly impressed by the cleanliness, orderliness, and efficiency of the facility. The DeKalb County Jail is an accredited facility and adheres to regulations that meet the standards including nutritious meals and a limitation of inmates at any one time. Select privileges are allowed for good behavior. Groups or individuals are welcome to take tours of the DeKalb Jail upon request. The jurors commend Sheriff Patrick Ray and his staff for their most professional demeanor”.
“All county employees met bonding requirements necessary for certification by the law,” the report concluded.

Three more persons have picked up qualifying petitions from the election commission office.
Travis Bryant of Holmes Creek of Holmes Creek Road, Smithville plans to run as an Independent in the August General Election to fill the remaining two years of a vacant constable position in the third district
Bobby R. Taylor of Midway Road, Smithville will be a candidate for the Democratic nomination for a fourth district county commission position in the May 6 primary.
Michael Agee of Holmes Creek Road, Smithville will be a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Sheriff in the May 6 primary.
Administrator of Elections Dennis Stanley said with elections on the minds of voters, now is a good time to update your address if you have moved.
“We’ve had three petitions returned already and I’ve noticed some of the voters signing petitions have listed addresses that are different than what we have on file in our database,” Stanley said. “It is very important for voters to keep their residential address up to date with our office in order to avoid unnecessary delays when they go to the polls next year,” he added.

A 24 year old man has been indicted on the charge of statutory rape for allegedly engaging in sexual activity with a fifteen year old girl.
Bryan Cunningham is among more than fifty persons who were indicted by the new term of the DeKalb County Grand Jury which convened on Monday, November 25. Seven persons were named in sealed indictments
All the defendants will be arraigned on Monday, December 9.
The incident involving Cunningham occurred on Friday, July 5.
Smithville Police said that Lieutenant Matt Holmes and Sergeant Brad Tatrow caught Cunningham and a young girl engaging in sexual activity in the woods by the creek on Holmes Creek Road. The officers were patroling the area because it’s a known hangout.
The names of defendants indicted and their charges are as follows:
April Lynn Anderson- Theft over $1,000
Anthony Adcock and Tammi Adams- Initiation of a process to manufacture meth; Manufacture of marijuana; and Possession of a weapon by a felon (2 counts)
Matthew Baker- Promotion of meth manufacture, Possession of a Schedule II & III drug, Possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting arrest
Christopher Barnes-Burglary and Theft over $1,000
Bryan Keith Boring- Driving under the influence
Jason Cline-Driving under the influence (2nd offense)
Jimmy Corder- Aggravated assault and Vandalism under $500
Bryan Cunningham- Statutory Rape
Hector Alejandro Caballero- Driving under the influence and Violation of the Implied Consent law
Anthony Lynn Colwell- Initiation of a process to manufacture meth
Billy Joe Rigsby and William Cory Dickens- Theft over $60,000 and Theft over $10,000
Brandon Hutchings, Sherry Malone, and Patricia Durham- Initiation of a process to manufacture meth and Promotion of meth manufacture
Billy Joe Davis, II- Driving under the influence
David Wayne Dowell- Aggravated Burglary, Theft under $500, and Vandalism under $500
Lonnie Ray Dyer- Aggravated Burglary and Theft under $500
Crystal Dianne Fults- Introduction of Contraband into a Penal Institution, DUI, and Possession of a Schedule II drug
Don Groshon- Prescription Fraud
Steven Levan Gandy- Driving on a revoked license and Initiation of a process to manufacture meth
Victor Gingerich- Driving on a Revoked License (3rd offense)
Rhonda Goff- Forgery (5 counts)
Josh Wayne Goff- Assault and Driving on a suspended license
Thomas Bruce Greene- DUI (2nd offense) and Driving on a suspended license
Andrew Tyler Hall-DUI (2nd offense)
Jessie Comer Harris- Initiation of a process to manufacture meth, Aggravated assault, Tampering with evidence, Evading with a motor vehicle, DUI, Reckless endangerment, and Resisting arrest
Brandon Hutchings and Jessica Jenkins- Auto burglary, Theft under $500, Promotion of meth manufacture, Possession of a schedule II drug, and Possession of paraphernalia
Joseph Ray Huff- Theft over $1,000 and Evading arrest
Jason Johnson- Possession of a handgun while intoxicated, DUI, and Violation of the Implied Consent law
Rhonda Michelle King- Initiation of a process to manufacture meth
Megan Ann Lann- Theft under $500
Molly Lawrence- Theft over $1,000 (2 counts)
Sharon Malone- Possession of a schedule III drug
Jonathan K. McCormick- Burglary and Theft over $1,000
Travis Melton- Introduction of contraband into a penal institution
Stephen Jason Moore- Possession of paraphernalia
Hector Orozco-Larragaita- DUI and Driving without a driver’s license
Karie Lynn Padgett- Theft under $500
Ralph Edward Pease, Jr.- Possession of a schedule II drug, Possession of paraphernalia, and Driving on a suspended license
Bradley Pugh- Initiation of a process to manufacture meth
Danny Austin Reeder- Possession of a schedule IV drug
Dennis Reeder- Possession of a schedule VI & III drug, DUI (2nd offense), and Violation of the Implied Consent law
Carl Schwartz- DUI (2nd offense) and Driving on a revoked license
Casimiro Silva- DUI and Leaving the scene of an accident
Walter Smouthers- Stalking (3 counts)
Erik Suarez- DUI (2nd offense), Driving on a suspended license, and Violation of the implied consent law
Megan Ann Tramel- Forgery (6 counts)
Abigail Vogel- Introduction of contraband into a penal institution and Public intoxication
Ryan Walden- Theft over $1,000, Evading arrest (2 counts), Resisting arrest, and Aggravated burglary
Autumn White- Possession of a schedule II drug for resale, Possession of a schedule III drug, Possession of a schedule IV (2 counts), Evading arrest, and Resisting arrest.
Jeremy Edward Woodard- Driving a revoked license
Jarrod Cain West- Driving on a suspended license

Another long time judge in the 13th Judicial District has decided to call it quits after completing his current term of office.
After serving for what will be 30 years next year, Circuit Court Judge John J. Maddux, Jr. has announced that he will not seek re-election and will be leaving the bench when his term expires on August 31, 2014.
Judge Maddux was first elected Circuit Court Judge in 1984, and was re-elected unopposed in 1990, 1998 and 2006.
He serves DeKalb and six other counties in the 13th Judicial District.
Criminal Court Judge Leon Burns, Jr. is also expected to retire at the end of his term next year, although he has apparently made no official announcement.
Judge Maddux has served as past president of the Tennessee Judicial Conference and the Tennessee Trial Judges Association. He has been a member of the Tennessee Pattern Jury Instruction-Civil Committee for 28 years. He was a member of the two person sub-committee which drafted the initial comparative fault jury instructions which were later modified and adopted by the full committee.
He was chairman of the Tennessee Pattern Jury Instruction Clarity Sub-¬Committee, which rewrote the entire pattern jury instruction book so that civil jury instructions would be more easily understood by jurors, attorneys and judges.
He has sat by special designation on the Tennessee Court of Appeals, the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals and the Supreme Court Special Workers’ Compensation Panel. Judge Maddux was offered, but respectfully declined, a nomination for a Federal District Court judgeship.
Judge Maddux currently serves as chairman of the Judicial Conference’s Long Range Planning Committee and has served as a member of the Legislative Committee and the Judicial Education Committee.
He was Tennessee’s delegate to the National Conference of the Judiciary on Bioethical Issues.
In 2010, Judge Maddux was elected chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Judicial Conference Foundation, Inc., a position he now holds.
The past presidents of the Judicial Conference along with three at large board members comprise the directors of the Foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to offer need based scholarships for students at each of the colleges of law in Tennessee.
In 2011, Judge Maddux was awarded the Justice Frank F. Drowota III Outstanding Judicial Service Award.
Last year, he was chosen to be a fellow of the American Bar Association which is an honor limited to less than one percent of the lawyers in America.
Judge Maddux has presided in approximately 600 judicial settlement conferences.
These settlement conferences are a form of mediation and have been successful almost 85 percent of the time.
For 35 years, he has served as State Chairman of Tennessee American Legion Boys State. During that time approximately 20,000 17-year-old delegates have attended Tennessee American Legion Boys State at Tennessee Tech University.
He is the author of a book titled “Tennessee Government,” a copy of which is given to each Boys State delegate to study and be tested on during the week of Boys State.
Tennessee’s American Legion Boys State is currently ranked as the number one Boys State program in the nation.
Judge Maddux has made presentations on comparative fault law to the Tennessee Judicial Conference, the Tennessee House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, and several Tennessee attorney organizations.
He is one of the instructors who teaches the section on jury trials at the Tennessee Judicial Conference’s Judicial Academy for new judges. Judge Maddux has taught the course on business law at Tennessee Tech University.
Judge Maddux attended undergraduate school at Tennessee Tech University and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He received his J.D. degree from the University of Tennessee.
He practiced both civil and criminal law in state and federal courts in Tennessee.

The only true fix to the Affordable Health Care Act is to repeal it and replace it with smarter market based reforms. That from Congressman Diane Black, who was in Smithville Monday.
While Obama administration officials say they expect to meet the President’s goal of having the troubled website HealthCare.gov working for the “vast majority” of users by November 30, Congressman Black told WJLE Monday that she is still pushing for an alternative.
Congressman Black is co-sponsoring a bill called the American Health Care Reform Act, which would repeal Obamacare and then focus on reducing health care costs and increasing access by allowing Americans to purchase health insurance across state lines. “The bill is from our Republican Study Committee that would look at using market based patient centered principles in reforming health care. The bill would actually repeal the entire Obamacare (Affordable Health Care Act). The reason for this is that we believe we can do the kinds of things that need to be done like pre-existing conditions and helping to take care of people who truly cannot afford or don’t have access to insurance. We can do that in a lot more efficient way where the individual actually has more choice and is patient centered for them and market based,” said Congressman Black.
The legislation, co-sponsored by Congressman Black, would also put in place common-sense medical malpractice reform that would limit lawsuit abuse in the health industry and help lower costs associated with doctor and hospital visits.
“Our plan would protect individuals with pre-existing conditions by bolstering state-based high-risk pools and extending existing guaranteed availability protections under HIPAA. We expand access to health savings accounts and level the playing field for families and individuals by giving them the same tax deductions for health care costs that businesses and employers enjoy,” she said.
“Obamacare is failing to live up to even its most basic expectations and is creating havoc on our health care system and exposing Tennesseans and Americans across the country to dropped coverage, reduced access and dramatic premium increases. This cannot sustain itself and must be stopped. There is not a day that goes by in my office that we don’t hear a new story about either someone losing their healthcare because their employer said I’m just not going to do this anymore and I’d rather pay a fine, or their rates going up. This is what we’re hearing a lot of. They’re getting rates in the mail from their insurance companies. Some of those rates are going up by 200%. We also hear from people who are losing their jobs where companies want to stay under their fifty employees so rather than have fifty or fifty five employees, they are making employees either part time and in some cases employees are losing their jobs. So a lot of negative impact has come with this health care bill (Obamacare). We believe this can be done (healthcare reform) and these problems and situations we have could be solved without the government taking over one sixth of the economy,” said Congressman Black.
During her visit to Smithville Monday, Congressman Black stopped by Middle Tennessee Natural Gas. “I wanted to come and talk about what happens here in the utility district. The amount of folks who are served here is remarkable and to make sure that as an official on the federal side I am doing whatever I can do to help make sure they can serve their customers in an efficient way,” she said
Congressman Black also paid a visit to DeKalb Community Hospital and DTC Communications.
During a brief interview with WJLE, Congressman Black said exploring how to make the tax code simpler and more fair for families is another issue she is seeking to address in legislation called the Student and Family Tax Simplification Act. This legislation consolidates four existing education provisions — the Hope Credit, the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), the Lifetime Learning Credit, and the tuition deduction — into a single, modernized and strengthened AOTC.
“We would like to be able to take a 1986 out of date tax code and bring it up to date by having something fairer, flat, and simpler where we bring down the rate so that money can go back into the economy. That’s another thing we are concerned about is the economy and the amount of jobs. When people have money in their pockets they spend that money and when they spend that money, it creates more jobs and it helps to grow revenue so that we can get out of this situation with our debt and deficit spending. That all kind of flows together. If you do the tax reform, more jobs are created, there’s more money in people’s pockets, and it raises their quality of life and at the same time it helps to raise revenues so we can grow our way out of this debt and deficit spending.
As outlined in the legislation, the new AOTC, which would be permanent and partially refundable, would:
•Provide a 100-percent tax credit for the first $2,000 of eligible higher education expenses and a 25-percent tax credit for the next $2,000 of such expenses (for a maximum credit of $2,500).
•The first $1,500 of the credit would be refundable, meaning that families could receive the benefit regardless of whether they have Federal income tax liability.
•The credit could be used to offset expenses for tuition, fees and course materials.
•The credit would be available for up to four years of post-secondary education at qualifying four-year universities, community colleges, and trade and vocational schools.
•The credit would begin to phase out for families with income between $86,000 and $126,000 (half those amounts for single individuals), ensuring that the credit provides the greatest benefit and value to low- and middle-income families.
“Streamlining the number of education provisions and retooling those that are most effective has another benefit, too – it allows us to simplify the code and reduce some of the confusion that exists today. As a result, students can spend less time figuring out how to finance the cost of a higher education and more time developing the skills they need to succeed in a knowledge-based economy. It ought to be easier for any family to plan, save and invest in education. Our bipartisan bill makes common-sense reforms to make the tax code simpler and fairer when it comes to helping Americans afford the cost of a college education,” she said.
Congressman Black said she is also concerned about an agreement between Iran and several world leaders including the United States that seeks to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for lighter economic sanctions. “I’m very concerned about it. I haven’t gotten into all the details but I’m very concerned that there would be a deal made that doesn’t seem to be a good deal for the United States or even the world where we have Iran that is enriching this fuel for nuclear energy. They (Iran) keep talking about how they want to use this (nuclear) for energy. They’re sitting on the biggest pile of natural gas of any country in the world so why are they doing nuclear? They have not abided by the resolutions that were set up by the United Nations. We know they have broken their promises there. What makes us think they’re going to keep their promises now when they have broken their promises before? If we release those sanctions then there is no leverage. It seems like we’re giving up a lot and getting really nothing for it,” she said.
The fact that Israel, the United States’ strongest ally in the region, is opposed to this agreement is also cause for concern , according to Congressman Black. “I have had the opportunity to visit Israel and meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. What they have shown us behind closed doors is classified but what they know is very concerning so at this point we don’t need to release those sanctions and allow Iran to move forward with their nuclear development,” said Congressman Black.
(PICTURED ABOVE: MTUD Vice President of Human Resources and General Counsel Mike Corley, Congressman Diane Black, and MTUD Executive Vice President and CEO Jim Hodges)

A Smithville man has been charged with theft for allegedly stealing farm equipment and selling most of it at a local recycling center.
28 year old Steven Dale Davidson of Antioch Road, Smithville is charged with theft of property over $1,000. His bond is $10,000 and he will be in court on December 12.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Tuesday November 5, Davidson allegedly took several items from property on Jones Mill Road including an Allis Chalmers dozer winch, a three point hitch bush hog, a three point hitch pickup disk, a two bottom plow, a three point hitch pond scoop, logging forks from a fork lift, and two-three point hitch cultivators. Davidson allegedly admitted to taking these items. Most of them were sold to a local recycling center but Davidson said he sold the bush hog to a family member for thirty dollars. The case was investigated by a detective of the Sheriff’s Department.
Meanwhile, 49 year old Victor Locklear of Toad Road, Dowelltown is charged with possession of schedule III and IV drugs for resale, possession of drugs in a drug free zone, and possession of a prohibited weapon. He was also issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond totals $40,000 and he will be in court on December 19.
Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, November 18 a deputy went to the office of the Department of Children’s Services on Walker Drive to serve a Wilson County warrant on Locklear. While there, the officer conducted a search of Locklear and found a white container with fifteen pills believed to be Hydrocodone and six blue pills thought to be Clonazepam. He also found a cut straw believed to have been used for illegal drug activity. The straw contained a white powdery substance. Found In Locklear’s pants pocket were a pair of brass knuckles. The drug free zone charge was filed against Locklear because the Department of Children Service’s office where Locklear was found with the drugs is within one thousand feet of the Smithville Elementary School property, which is a drug free zone. Locklear was arrested and brought to the jail for booking.
51 year Gregory Herman Wessels and 45 year old Christine Anne Fekete both of Franklin are cited on drug charges. Wessels is cited for possession of drug paraphernalia and Fekete is cited for simple possession. Sheriff Ray said that on Wednesday, November 20 a deputy was dispatched on a call and he made contact with these individuals on Highway 70 east. After obtaining consent to search, the officer found a marijuana pipe in a back pack that belonged to Wessels. He also found a small amount of marijuana in Fekete’s possession. Both Wessels and Fekete will be in court on December 12.
58 year old Curtis Lee Rust and 61 year old Sharon Sue Rust of Dearman Street, Smithville are charged with domestic assault for allegedly attacking their son-in-law. Sharon Rust is also charged with being a fugitive from Justice in Broward County Florida where she is wanted for possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia. Bond for Curtis Rust is $2,500. Her bond is $152,500. Both will be in court on December 12. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, November 23 Curtis Rust allegedly assaulted his son-in-law at a residence on Sparta Highway by tackling and taking him to the ground, not letting him get up. Sharon Rust also allegedly assaulted the man by punching him in the face with her fist, leaving his eye black and swollen. Both Curtis and Sharon Rust were arrested and brought to the jail for booking.
An officer did a background check through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and discovered that Sharon Rust is wanted on active warrants in Broward County, Florida for possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia. Florida authorities plan to seek extradition of Sharon Rust.

A 27 year old man was arrested on three counts of forgery last week.
Smithville Police Chief Randy Caplinger said Andrew Tyler Hall is under a $15,000 bond and he will be in General Sessions Court on December 12.
The investigation began on August 21 when Corporal Travis Bryant took reports from a local bank concerning checks being forged on an account holder who resided in another county. Video surveillance showed Hall passing checks on the victim’s account July 29, August 9, and August 13. After confirming the checks were forged, police took warrants for Hall’s arrest. On Thursday, November 21, Detective Matt Holmes saw Hall on the Smithville public square. He asked Hall to meet him at the Police Department. After arriving there, Hall was read his rights and placed under arrest.
In other cases, 31 year old Jessica French Hale was cited for shoplifting on Tuesday, November 12. K-9 Officer James Cornelius was dispatched to the Dollar General Store where he was informed that someone had taken items from the business without paying for them and then had driven away. A description was given of the vehicle in which the shoplifter had left. Officer Cornelius later located the suspect, Hale and the items taken from the store were recovered.
Officer Matt Farmer cited 29 year old Randall Jake Hines for shoplifting at Ace Hardware on Saturday, November 16. Hines was spotted by an employee putting an item belonging to the store under his shirt and walking out without paying for it. The stolen item was returned to the store. Hines will be in court on December 12.
Captain Steven Leffew was dispatched to Wal-Mart in reference to a shoplifter on Saturday, November 16. A store employee saw 47 year old Peggy L .Jordan put items in her purse. After speaking with Jordan, Captain Leffew recovered the unpaid for items. Jordan was cited to appear in court on December 12.
Officer Will Judkins cited 38 year old Stephanie Ann Pierce for shoplifting at the Dollar General Store on Monday, November 18. Pierce was found with several items from the store inside of her clothing that she had not paid for.
25 year old Steven Cuevas was arrested for domestic assault on Wednesday, November 20. Officer Will Judkins responded to a domestic and upon arrival he spoke with the victim. According to police, it appeared that the victim was trying to get her belongings and leave when Cuevas pushed her and hit her in the face. The victim’s left eye appeared to be swollen and red. Bond for Cuevas is $2,500 and he will be in court December 12.