The DeKalb County Fire Department recently took delivery of a new enclosed utility trailer from DeKalb Depot.
County Fire Chief Donny Green said the trailer will be used to transport the fire department’s John Deere Gator recently acquired through a grant from the Department of Homeland Security. In addition, the trailer will be used to transport other emergency equipment as needed.
Chief Green added that his department is especially appreciative to DeKalb Depot for their assistance in helping obtain a purchasing discount that allowed the department to work within a tight budget to purchase the trailer.

A Murfreesboro man died in a motorcycle crash on State Highway 96 (Dale Ridge Road) Wednesday afternoon
Dead is 41 year old William Ellis, Jr.
Central dispatch received the call at 3:55 p.m.
Trooper Todd Logan of the Tennessee Highway Patrol told WJLE that Ellis, operating a 2005 Yamaha motorcycle, was traveling south on Highway 96 (Dale Ridge Road) when he failed to negotiate a curve, left the road, went down an embankment, and struck a tree. Ellis, who was wearing a helmet, was thrown from the bike. According to Trooper Logan, the motorcycle traveled approximately 150 feet from where it began to leave the highway to the place where it came to rest. The crash occurred less than a mile from Highway 70 on Dale Ridge Road.
Two other motorcycle operators were riding ahead of Ellis on Dale Ridge Road prior to the crash. Neither witnessed the accident but one of bikers happened to glance in his rear view mirror and noticed that Ellis was no longer following behind them. As the two bikers got to Highway 70, they turned back and began looking for Ellis near where they last spotted him. After searching by bike and on foot without success, they called 911 and deputies and DeKalb EMS arrived on the scene.
Ellis’ motorcycle and his lifeless body were later discovered by a deputy while conducting a foot search in the area.
Deputy Medical Examiner Terry Martin and members of the county volunteeer fire department also came to the scene.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry and the Department of Commerce and Insurance’s Division of Fire Prevention are observing National Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 9-15), by reminding homeowners to follow simple safety practices to prevent forest fires. The official start of forest fire season in Tennessee is Oct. 15.
“Because of dry conditions and the traditional start of fire season, it’s important that citizens call for a burning permit and follow outdoor burning safety recommendations,” said state forester Steve Scott. “Many areas of the state are very dry and the permit system helps us communicate to the public when and where it is safe to burn.”
Activities requiring a burning permit include unconfined outdoor burning of brush and leaves, untreated wood waste and burning to clear land. Burning permits are free of charge. Citizens can apply for burning permits by calling their local Division of Forestry office between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Forestry offices are listed in your local phone directory under state government, or can be found by visiting www.burnsafetn.org, which also includes tips for safe debris burning. Permit holders should also check for other restrictions in their locale.
Burning permits can be obtained from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday by calling the DeKalb County office of the Division of Forestry at 597-4015. In Smithville, call 215-3000 to obtain a burning permit. Permits can be obtained for small debris piles after hours and on the weekends by visiting www.burnsafetn.org.
New this year is the automated online system. The online permits are only available for small scale burning of leaf and/or brush piles measuring less than 8 feet by 8 feet in dimensions. The system was developed to more efficiently issue permits to landowners conducting small scale debris burns, and to provide better access through the weekend and after-work hours for landowners. These permits can be obtained on days and in counties where burn permits are allowed by visiting www.burnsafetn.org.
Homeowners living in forested communities can take steps to protect themselves and their property. Keeping gutters and rooftops free of debris, maintaining at least two to five feet of none flammable material next to the foundation of the home and clearing away flammable brush at least 30 feet from the house are just a few simple examples of what homeowners can do.
Wildfires are occasionally started by out of control house fires. The state Fire Marshal’s Office is warning citizens to also be aware of fire hazards in their home.
“For many years, Tennessee has occupied an undesirable ranking in the country for fire deaths. Falling asleep while smoking in bed or in a comfortable chair remains a significant cause of fire deaths in Tennessee,” says Department of Commerce and Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Julie Mix McPeak. “Always make sure your home’s smoke detectors are functioning properly.”
Escaped debris burns are the leading cause of wildfires. Burning without a permit is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and/or a fine not to exceed $50. Wildfires caused by arson are a class C felony punishable by three to 15 years in prison and up to $10,000 fines. Anyone with information about suspected arson activity should call the state Fire Marshal’s Arson Hotline toll-free at 1-800-762-3017.
For more information, visit www.BurnSafeTN.org

Smithville Electric System is planning a power outage which will affect all customers Sunday morning, October 23.
In a prepared news release, officials of Smithville Electric System state that ” In order to upgrade our system’s capacity and reliability, Smithville Electric is planning a Power Outage for all customers beginning Saturday midnight October 22nd at 12:01 a.m. thru early Sunday morning hours to approximately 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning.”
“We plan to have all power restored well before sunrise on Sunday morning.”
“This outage time will allow our personnel to safely install a new larger transformer in our substation. Our plans are to keep our outage time to a minimum and could be less.”
“Actions you may consider before this event:
Shut down computers or provide battery backup
Leave electric garage doors open or cars outside
Notify alarm system companies of outage times
We do regret any inconvenience this outage may cause.”
For more information you may contact our Smithville Electric office Monday- Friday 7:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m. or our after hours answering service 24 hours a day at 615-597-4735 .

County firefighters responded to a fire at the single wide mobile home of Tim Johnson Monday night on Hickory Street off the Cookeville Highway.
It apparently began as a grease fire as the residents were in the kitchen doing some cooking. They put out the small blaze with a fire extinguisher and thought the problem was solved. But later, after they had left home to go to town, the fire rekindled.
911 was notified and firefighters were dispatched to the scene.
Lieutenant Brad Mullinax of the county fire department said that the blaze was confined to the kitchen and living room but the rest of the home received extensive heat, smoke, and water damage.
No one was injured.
Members of the Cookeville Highway, Short Mountain Highway, Main Station, and Tanker Truck responded.

Repair work has begun on the College Street (Veterans Memorial) bridge over West Broad Street (U.S. 70) in Smithville.
TDOT let the bid to contract several weeks ago and Jamison Construction, LLC of McEwen was the successful bidder at $42,260.
According to TDOT officials, Jamison Construction plans to have temporary lane closures and pace traffic at various times depending upon the scope of the work both northbound and southbound on U.S. 70 from 6:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on weekdays. The estimated project completion date is November.
The repair work is needed apparently due primarily to collision damage caused by large trucks that have hit the bridge. The bridge underwent repairs for the same reason three years ago.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department filed charges and issued citations against several persons this past week for driving under the influence and driving on a revoked license.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that 49 year old Timothy Lloyd Caldwell of Medlin Drive of Dowelltown is charged with driving on a revoked license. He was also issued a citation for a violation of the financial responsibility law (no insurance) and for failure to drive within his lane of traffic. His bond is $1, 500 and he will be in court on November 16
Sheriff Ray reports that on Wednesday, October 5 a deputy stopped Caldwell on the Old Snow Hill Road for failure to maintain his lane of travel. A computer check revealed his license were revoked on August 24 for a DUI in Putnam County.
34 year old James Walter Stringer of Morgan Drive, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. He was also issued a citation for violation of the implied consent law. His bond is $1,500 and he will be in court on October 13.
Sheriff Ray reports that on Thursday, October 6 Stringer was stopped on Highway 70 for squealing tires. He had an odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and he was unsteady on his feet. Stringer admitted to drinking beer and taking xanax. He performed poorly on all field sobriety tasks but refused to submit to a blood test.
43 year old Greta Lynn Higgins of Midway Road, Smithville is charged with driving under the influence. She was also issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court on October 13.
Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, October 7. a deputy stopped Higgins on Highway 70 for failure to maintain her lane of travel. Higgins had slurred speech and she was very unsteady on her feet. She performed poorly on all field sobriety tasks. She also submitted to a blood test. During the arrest, the officer found a hypodermic needle in Higgins’ purse.
31 year old Tanya Renee Broad of Washington Street, Sparta is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence. Her bond is $3,000.
Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, October 8 Broad was stopped by an officer on Highway 70 for a violation of the light law. She had an odor of an alcoholic beverage on her person and she was unsteady on her feet. Broad performed poorly on all field sobriety tasks. She also submitted to a blood test.

The Nashville surgeon who went missing while kayaking on Center Hill Lake over a week ago remains missing but new clues have been revealed by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and TWRA that may shed more light on the case.
In a press conference Monday afternoon at the Hurricane bridge recreation area, Sheriff Patrick Ray and TWRA Officer Nick Luper updated local and Nashville media on the search and the investigation.
Sheriff Ray said the disappearance of Dr. William Coltharp is still considered a “missing person” case and no foul play is suspected. But could it have been a suicide? Officials can’t say for sure because no body has been recovered. But an empty handgun case belonging to Dr. Coltharp was found last Monday near the Hurricane boat ramp and a witness came forward on Friday to report that he had seen a man on Sunday evening, October 2 loading a cylinder concrete block onto a kayak with him before paddling down stream.
In his update to the media, Sheriff Ray read from the following prepared statement: ” 55 year old Dr. William Hubert Coltharp of Tyne Boulevard, Nashville left his residence in Nashville at approximately 4:00 p.m. enroute to Center Hill Lake to kayak.”
“Dr. Coltharp went to Hurricane boat ramp on Sunday evening, October 2. There have been two independent witnesses that have confirmed that Dr. Coltharp arrived at the Hurricane boat ramp by himself at approximately 6:00 p.m. We have also confirmed by other sources such as cell towers where he had used his cell phone that Dr. Coltharp was in this area. A witness stated that he had spoken to Dr. Coltharp. The doctor was last seen on Center Hill Lake on the west side of Hurricane bridge”.
“Sometime after midnight on Monday, October 3, Dr. Coltharp’s wife left Nashville enroute to Center Hill Lake. She did not know the exact location that Dr. Coltharp had launched his kayak but was somewhat familiar with that area of Floating Mill and the Hurricane Marina. While enroute to DeKalb County, she contacted law enforcement about her husband being missing. She was directed to the dispatch center for the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency. She talked with a TWRA officer and eventually found her husband’s vehicle, a 1999 White Chevy Suburban, in the parking lot of Hurricane boat ramp. DeKalb Central Dispatch was notified at 1:22 a.m. by TWRA about the missing man. Deputies from the DeKalb Sheriff’s Department arrived on the scene at 1:44 a.m. Monday morning, October 3. Neither Dr. Coltharp nor his kayak were anywhere to be found.”,
“At approximately 2:30 a.m. a search was started for Dr. Coltharp. At approximately 5:00 a.m., an upside down kayak, which contained a life jacket, was found which is believed to be Dr. Coltharp’s kayak. A paddle was found further down stream later that day. An Apple MacBook laptop computer was also found in the kayak’s storage box. The computer was soaked in water but was retrieved from the kayak and has since been sent to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Lab to see if any information can be retrieved from it. The kayak was found approximately one mile from the Hurricane boat ramp”.
“Later that same morning (Monday, October 3), at approximately 9:40 a.m., a worker who is contracted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was working at the Hurricane boat ramp and found a handgun case as he was changing out garbage bags. There was no handgun inside the case. Through an investigation, the handgun case was found to belong to Dr. Coltharp.”
“On Friday evening, October 7, authorities confirmed through a witness that Dr. Coltharp arrived at the lake right before dark (Sunday, October 2) and was seen loading a cylinder concrete block onto the kayak with him. He then paddled in the direction where the kayak was later found”.
“The only thing we have in our investigation are facts and these are the facts of the case. There is no evidence that points towards foul play. Its only a missing person report at this time and it will continue to be until we find the body or find him,” said Sheriff Ray.
Although Coltharp’s kayak, life jacket, a pair of kayak gloves, computer and gun case have been recovered, authorities have not found the keys to Dr. Coltharp’s SUV or his cell phone. As for the gun case, Sheriff Ray said authorities have confirmed that Dr. Coltharp owns a handgun and the serial numbers match those on the gun case.
TWRA Officer Luper said the search for Dr. Coltharp will continue throughout the week, if needed. The general area of the search is about a mile downstream of the Hurricane boat ramp, in about sixty feet of water. “Part of our search has involved dragging the bottom of the lake. We did a lot of that in the beginning stages. Earlier on in the week we didn’t have a definite location of where we might could look or where the accident might have taken place. So we didn’t have a good location. We had a wide spread search. On Friday night, we had a pretty good witness come to us and confirm for us where he had last seen Mr. Coltharp. That helped us to really hone in on a particular area that we’re still searching at. As of today (Monday) we have still not located Mr. Coltharp. The Nashville Office of Emergency Management is out here today with a towfish which is a type of sonar. They continue to search today into the afternoon. If you know anything about this lake there are lots of objects on the bottom of this lake, trees, logs, different things so anytime we come across an image that’s of interest to us, we’ll usually send a diver down to confirm that. We’ve done that a few times this week. Even throughout the rest of this week there will be some type of search. We’re not sure at what capacity at this time but there will be a search that will continue the rest of this week, ” said TWRA Officer Luper
“This has been quite an extensive search throughout the entire week beginning during the late hours of Sunday night and early Monday morning and we’ve had a lot of folks here from various agencies. There’s a lot of folks I believe need to be commended for being here especially the DeKalb County Rescue Squad. They have been here throughout the entire search. They’ve put in a lot of tireless hours. They’ve come from work and come before work. Some have even missed work to be here to participate in this search. These guys are all volunteers and they really need to be commended for being here. We’ve had a lot of folks from surrounding counties who have also participated in the search. They have come at different times throughout the week. I want to thank all those folks who came. All the rescue squads. The cadaver dog bloodhound groups that came to help us out. They deserve to be commended for that. On behalf of all the rescue workers, I would like to thank St. Thomas Hospital for donating all the food and water. Its really kept everybody going this week. It was very generous of them to do that. Its really helped in our search,” said Officer Luper.
Sheriff Ray also released a prepared statement from the Coltharp family. In it, the family states ” The Coltharp family would like to express our deepest appreciation for the search and rescue efforts led by the Smithville/DeKalb County Rescue Squad to locate Will Coltharp”.
“The Smithville/DeKalb County Rescue Squad, led by Director Dustin Johnson, has requested and received assistance from Coffee, Cannon, Jackson, Warren, and White Counties, the City of Smyrna, the United Auto Workers of Nashville, members of the Bloodhound Search and Rescue Group, the Nashville Office of Emergency Management, and the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency”.
“Furthermore, the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency has been here everyday and actively worked in the search”.
“Finally, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Patrick Ray, has worked in an extraordinary and professional manner to keep us up to date”.
“We very much appreciate the efforts of St. Thomas Hospital, Nashville residents, local merchants, friends and concerned people who provided food and coffee to the volunteers and family”.
“The efforts of everyone in the community, to support us in the search, will be a memory remembered by all of us”.

In addition to supporting the DCHS Football team at Friday night football games, the DeKalb County Fighting Tiger Band spends a lot of time preparing to compete against other high school bands. These contests are held on Saturdays and hosted by various high schools across the state.
The last two weekends have been very busy for the band. On Saturday, Oct 1st, they competed in the Blue Devil Marching Invitational at Lebanon High School. On Saturday, Oct 8th, they competed in the Small Band Championship at Forest High School in Chapel Hill. Both performances proved to be successful for the Fighting Tiger Band.
In Lebanon, the DCHS Color Guard and Percussion sections brought home trophies for 1st Place in Class. After reviewing the score sheets, both sections also placed 2nd in the Division, which is a combination of all the small classes. Although no trophies or recognitions were awarded for the Division accomplishments, it is a great indication that the band is going in the right direction.
In Chapel Hill, The Fighting Tigers performed their way to receive 1st Place Band and Percussion Class awards. In addition, Field Commander, Hannah Cantrell, also brought home a Drum Major award for 2nd Place in Class. Band Director, Jonathan Wright said, “I would like to thank our Band Boosters for all that you do to help as chaperones, pit crew, and drivers. Without your dedication, our accomplishments would not be possible.” He continues, “I would also like to extend a special thanks to Eddie Rowland for providing dinner for all of the students, directors, staff, and boosters at our contest this past weekend!” Assistant Band Director, Joey Wilburn said, “I’m really proud of how the band has worked. They have raised their score by over 10 points. I’m very excited to see how far they can go.”
For the next few weeks, the band will prepare for their final contest of the season on Oct 29th in Alcoa, Tennessee. They will also perform at the final two games of the regular season for the Tiger Football Team against Upperman High School on Oct 14th and again on Oct 28th against Livingston Academy.
The DeKalb County Fighting Tiger Band and Boosters would like to invite everyone out to the 2nd Annual Chili Supper at the DCHS Cafeteria on Friday, Oct 21st. Serving begins at 5PM and tickets are only $5 each. Advanced tickets can be purchased from any Fighting Tiger marching band student or Booster member. Price includes a bowl of chili, a grilled cheese sandwich, a dessert, and a drink. Come out and show your support to the band! You can read more about the band and their schedule at www.DekalbBand.com or “like” them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DekalbBand .

Two men charged with theft of property from a local industry twenty one months ago were each sentenced by Judge David Patterson in DeKalb County Criminal Court Friday.
36 year old Melvin Leon Cripps, Jr. and 41 year old Tracy Lynn Haynes each received a four year sentence, suspended to supervised probation after pleading guilty to one count of theft over $1,000. The two men are to pay restitution of $50,000 jointly and severally and they will be on unsupervised probation once all conditions of the plea agreement are met. Haynes’ sentence is to run concurrently with his probation in a General Sessions Court case.
Cripps and Haynes were arrested on Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 by then Detective Jerry Hutchins of the Smithville Police Department. Police said around January 9th, 2010 several pieces of welding equipment and power supplies were stolen from Tenneco’s (Walker’s) warehouse at 415 Miller Road. On January 11th, maintenance manager, Johnny Pridmore reported to Officer Matt Farmer that he was informed that some of Tenneco’s equipment may be at Ivy Bluff Salvage. Pridmore went to Ivy Bluff Salvage and found equipment belonging to Tenneco. Pridmore returned to the warehouse on January 11th to find a truck with a bumper trailer attached. On the trailer were two items belonging to Tenneco. He approached the men in the truck and requested their names and asked what they were doing. The driver stated his name was Melvin Cripps. While Mr. Pridmore called the police, the two men unloaded the two items off the trailer and left. After further investigation, Detective Hutchins arrested Cripps and Haynes.
Meanwhile, a former store employee of Potters Home Center, charged with forgery and felony theft over $1,000, has been granted judicial diversion probation for two years, supervised by TDOC. He entered into the plea agreement by information.
In August, 32 year old Jason Brian Jones was charged in a scheme to allegedly steal money from Potters Home Center by taking advantage of the store’s policy on returning merchandise.
Under the terms of his probation, Jones must make restitution of $8,100 to Potter’s Home Center and complete a drug rehabilitation program at New Life Ministries in Arkansas. New Life Ministries will make a monthly report to CPS probation.
According to Smithville Police Chief Randy Caplinger, on several occasions from June 7th through July 30th, Jones allegedly forged the names of people on return slips, then made out a check from the store for the returns to the names on those slips. He then allegedly forged their names on the backs of those checks, cashed them in-store, and kept the money. The total amount of money taken in the scheme amounts to several thousands of dollars. All of the return slips were bogus, meaning that no merchandise from anyone named on the slips was actually brought to the store for a return.
During the investigation, Police questioned Jones who allegedly confessed to the crimes. He is also no longer an employee of the store.
In other cases, 25 year old Charlie Chad Barnes pleaded guilty to initiation of a process intent to result in the manufacture of methamphetamine. He received an eight year sentence to serve at 30%. He was also fined $2,000. Barnes was given jail credit of 33 days.
23 year old Terry Ray Barnes pleaded guilty to attempted initiation of a process to manufacture methamphetamine. He received a four year sentence to serve at least 30% before his release eligibility date. He was also fined $2,000. The sentence is to run concurrently with a Van Buren County sentence he is currently serving. Barnes was given jail credit of 264 days.
Sheriff Patrick Ray told WJLE that on Sunday, January 16th, a deputy went to Big Hurricane Road to investigate a possible meth lab. The officer spoke with Chad Barnes who answered the door. The deputy told him why he was there. Barnes gave consent to search. Terry Barnes was also there. Found in the room were components used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, including a two liter bottle containing a clear liquid with lithium strips boiling, batteries, cut up batteries, lye, draino, cold packs, eight foot long plastic tubing, and other items consistent with the manufacture of methamphetamine. The officer reported that when he approached the front of the residence, he noticed a chemical smell coming from inside the home.
29 year old William Travis Malone pleaded guilty to sale of a schedule II controlled substance and received a four year sentence, suspended to 65 days of time served. The remainder of the sentence is to be served on community corrections. He was fined $2,000 and must make $50 restitution to the Smithville Police Department. He was given jail credit of 65 days.
Malone was charged in a sealed indictment as the result of an undercover drug investigation by the Smithville Police Department. According to Detective Matt Holmes, a confidential source purchased two dilaudid pills from Malone on February 23 at a location within one thousand feet of Smithville Elementary School.
29 year old Matthew Baker pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia and driving on a suspended license. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on probation in each case to run concurrently with each other and with any current probation.
20 year old Ray D. Underwood pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and was released to time served. He was given jail credit of 207 days.
50 year old Danny Ponder pleaded guilty to sale of a schedule II controlled substance and received a four year sentence in the community corrections program. He was fined $2,000 and must make $50 restitution to the Smithville Police Department. Ponder must undergo an alcohol and drug assessment.
Ponder was charged in a sealed indictment as the result of an undercover drug investigation by the Smithville Police Department. According to Detective Matt Holmes, a confidential source purchased two dilaudid pills from Ponder on February 23 at a location within one thousand feet of Smithville Elementary School.
39 year old Janet Mayo pleaded guilty to simple possession of a schedule II and VI controlled substance and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on supervised probation. The two sentences are to run concurrently. She was fined $1,000.
Mayo was arrested on Sunday, January 9th. She was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by Smithville Police Officer James Cornelius on a traffic violation. Mayo was asked to step out of the vehicle and empty her pockets. She had a bag containing drug paraphernalia and what was believed to be marijuana and methamphetamine.
45 year old Rhonda Brewer pleaded guilty to introduction of contraband into the jail. She received a three year sentence, all suspended to supervised probation. She was given jail credit of 104 days. Brewer must also pay a $2,000 fine. The sentence is to run concurrently with her probation in General Sessions Court.
Sheriff Ray reports that on Thursday, May 19 Brewer reported to the jail on a violation of probation. Upon a pat down search, a coffee filter was found in her bra by the correctional officers. When the filter was unfolded, officers found that it contained methamphetamine.
26 year old Melinda Murphy pleaded guilty to two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card and one count of theft under $500.
She received a sentence of one year on state probation in one of the fraud cases, 11 months and 29 days in the other on probation , and 11 months and 29 days in the theft case on probation. All the terms are to run concurrently with each other but consecutive to a sentence in General Sessions Court. She must make restitution of $985 and make a $200 contribution to the economic crime fund.
20 year old Alexandria June Rowell, charged with child neglect, was granted judicial diversion probation for two years. She is to complete accredited parenting classes.
20 year old David Graham, charged with child neglect, was granted judicial diversion probation for two years. He is to complete accredited parenting classes.
33 year old Jerry H. Goff pleaded guilty to sale of a schedule VI controlled substance and received a two year sentence on state probation. Goff was fined $2,000 and he must undergo an alcohol and drug assessment and follow all recommendations
30 year old Nena Chapman, charged with theft over $10,000, was granted judicial diversion probation for three years. She must make restitution of $3,758 jointly and severally with another defendant, 30 year old Joseph Daniel Richardson.
Sheriff Ray told WJLE that on Monday, April 4th Richardson allegedly entered a residence on Dry Creek Road with the intent to commit a theft. Richardson apparently made entry by pushing on the locked back door with his shoulder. Items taken were twenty five dollar gold pieces on a chain, two and a half dollar gold pieces on a chain, five dollar gold pieces on a chain, approximately one hundred fifty pieces of miscellaneous items, a medicine organizer, and a quilt. All items were valued at $15,070 dollars. Chapman allegedly took some of the jewelry and sold it at a local business.
In May, Richardson pleaded guilty by information to one count of aggravated burglary and one count of theft over $10,000. He received a three year sentence in each case, all suspended to supervised probation except for 180 days to serve. The sentences are to run concurrently with each other and concurrent with a violation of probation case against him. He was given jail credit from April 5th to May 20th.
19 year old Clay Andrew Bain pleaded guilty to simple possession of a schedule VI controlled substance, evading arrest, and unlawful possession of a weapon. He received a sentence of eleven months and 29 days in the drug and evading cases and 30 days on the weapons charge. The terms are to run concurrently. He will be on supervised probation. Bain must also pay a fine of $250
According to Sheriff Ray, in July, 2010 a deputy received a call from central dispatch about an altercation on Midway Road in Smithville. The complainant said that Bain was at a residence on Midway Road and was armed with a gun. An officer spotted Bain’s vehicle at the Midway Community Center. As Bain drove off the deputy activated his blue lights but Bain did not stop. The officer pursued Bain for approximately a ¼ of a mile before he pulled into the residence of the complainant. Upon approaching Bain’s automobile, the officer noticed inside the vehicle a club or stick that had duct tape rolled around one end of it. Bain was then taken into custody. When asked if he had anything in his pockets, Bain produced a small bag containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana.
42 year old Tobin Lane Hamnett pleaded guilty by information to reckless driving and received a six month suspended sentence on supervised probation. He was fined $1,000.
19 year old Wesley J. Hayes, charged with attempt to initiate the manufacture of methamphetamine, was granted judicial diversion probation for three years. He must perform 50 hours of community service
Hayes, 30 year old Scott B. Carroll, Jr and 20 year old Francisco Bustamonte were accused of engaging in a process to make methamphetamine at a residence at 200 the Loop Circle in the Midway Community on January 23. Carroll and Bustamonte were sentenced last month. Carroll received a 30 year sentence as a career criminal while 20 year old Bustamonte was handed an eleven year term in the local case to run consecutively to a six year sentence in a Cannon County case for the same type of offense.
36 year old James L. Owen, charged with promotion of the manufacture of methamphetamine, was granted judicial diversion for three years. He must perform 50 hours of community service.
25 year old Lois Nicole Cobble Godsey, charged with child abuse and neglect, was granted judicial diversion probation for two years
Sheriff Ray said that Godsey had taken the child to River Park Hospital in McMinnville on Saturday, January 1st for another medical reason when hospital staff apparently noticed bruises on the child’s legs, back, butt, and head. The child also smelled strongly of urine. Warren County authorities and members of the Department of Children Services were called initially. A further investigation by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department revealed that the child had been whipped excessively with a belt and switch.
29 year old Stephanie Ann Fagan pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated child abuse and received a five year sentence, all suspended to TDOC probation with the first four years to be supervised by community corrections. She was also fined $2,000.
In January, Fagan was charged with aggravated child abuse after allegedly allowing her 12 year old daughter to smoke marijuana. According to Smithville Police Detective Matt Holmes, he met Fagan at 829 Gentry Avenue on Wednesday, January 12th while conducting a follow-up investigation on an offense report. She was then transported to the Smithville Police Department for questioning. Fagan allegedly admitted that a few weeks prior she was at her residence with an adult male and that he talked Fagan into allowing the 12 year old daughter to smoke a marijuana cigarette with her.
Fagan was arrested and charged and the child was removed from her custody by the Department of Children’s Services.
25 year old Antonio Wilford pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. He received a four year sentence, all suspended to supervised probation. The sentence is to run concurrently with his probation in General Sessions Court and a Putnam County case.
Sheriff Ray told WJLE that a deputy accompanied a probation officer on a Bell Street home visit to check on a woman and during a search of the bedroom, the officers found a gun in a dresser drawer, which Wilford said belonged to him. The gun, which was actually stolen, had been defaced. The serial number had been scratched off. The incident occurred in October, 2010.
26 year old Sebrena Michelle Wright pleaded guilty by information to simple possession of oxycontin and suboxone and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days in each case, suspended to CPS probation. The two sentences are to run consecutively or back to back. She was fined $750.
50 year old Terry Lee Price pleaded guilty to two counts of sale of a schedule II controlled substance. He received a three year sentence in each case, suspended to supervised probation in the community corrections program. The sentences are to run consecutively for a total of six years. Price must also pay a $2,000 fine. He was given jail credit for 64 days.
40 year old Tina Young pleaded guilty by information to theft over $500 and received a one year sentence on supervised probation. The sentence is to run concurrently with her probation in another criminal court case.
52 year old Kenny Stults pleaded guilty to two counts of theft over $1,000 and received a two year sentence in each case at 30% as a standard range one offender, all suspended to TDOC probation. The two cases are to run concurrently with each other and with a Putnam County case against him. He is to pay restitution to all victims in the cases.