Judge Hands Down Sentences in Meth, Burglary, and other Drug Cases

Judge David Patterson sentenced seven people on drug charges and two others for burglaries in DeKalb County Criminal Court Monday, March 18
20 year old James Dillon Mitchell and 19 year old Amy Elizabeth Mullican pleaded guilty to attempted initiation of the manufacture of methamphetamine. Each received a six year sentence, all suspended to judicial diversion supervised probation and were fined $2,000. Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Thursday, September 20, 2012 a drug detective stopped a vehicle on Highway 70 east for having a headlight out. Mitchell, the driver, had very slurred speech and he kept dropping things in the car. The detective noticed a strong chemical odor coming from the automobile. Mitchell was asked to get out of the vehicle. He submitted to a search and the detective found in Mitchell’s coat pocket, rubber tubing taped to the lid of a bottle. In Mitchell’s pants pocket, the detective found a sock which contained a scale, glass pipe, and aluminum foil. Mullican, the owner of the vehicle and a passenger, gave consent to search the automobile and the detective found a plastic bottle, a one pot lab, in the front floor board along with two small plastic containers that held lye, three cut hoses, and empty blister packs. Mitchell said that the one pot lab belonged to him. Mullican admitted to knowing the one pot lab was in the car. A female correctional officer was called to the scene to search Mullican. Found in Mullican’s bra was a small plastic baggie with a white powdery substance believed to be methamphetamine.
25 year old Amanda Brooke Washer pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and received a three year sentence, all suspended to supervised probation. The sentence is to run concurrently with a sentence she is now serving in Warren County. She must also make restitution if applicable. Smithville Police Chief Randy Caplinger said that on Saturday, June 9, 2012 Washer allegedly broke into the residence of Eulain Poley Shelton on Gentry Avenue and took several items from the house including pieces of jewelry, cash, and other items, all valued at over $1,000
33 year old Jamie Edward Carroll pleaded guilty to promotion of methamphetamine. He received a five year sentence, suspended to 243 days of time served with the balance on TDOC supervised probation. Carroll must complete a long term residential drug rehab program. He was also fined $2,000. He was given jail credit of 243 days. Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, July 19, 2012 officers went to Carroll’s residence at 834 Gentry Avenue due to high traffic volume there. After receiving consent to search, officers found four hypodermic needles and several items used to manufacture methamphetamine including Aleve D Cold tablet boxes (in a kitchen garbage can); a 20 ounce plastic bottle, partially filled with a solid substance; a cold pack, partially burned in the back yard; and another cold pack which was found cut on the carport area of the home.
40 year old Scott Lynn Sykes pleaded guilty to attempted initiation of methamphetamine. He received a six year sentence to serve at 30% before his release eligibility date. His probation in another case was also revoked and he must serve the balance of a four year sentence in that case. The two sentences are to run concurrently with each other. Sykes was given jail credit from November 11, 2011 to November 24, 2012 and from January 1, 2013 to March 18, 2013. Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on New Year’s Day a sheriff’s department drug detective came to Sykes’ home on Alexander Street to do a welfare check on a small child. Sykes gave the detective consent to search the residence. In Sykes’ bedroom, the detective found rubber tubing, a 20 ounce Pepsi bottle, acid, ice compresses (cold packs) that had been cut open, a plastic baggie with a white substance believed to be lye, and pliers and cutters. In the kitchen, the detective found a two liter bottle partially filled with lighter fluid, an empty quart Kingsford fluid container, and a sixteen ounce bottle partially filled with acid. These components are used to manufacture methamphetamine. Sykes admitted that these items belonged to him. He was arrested and brought to the jail for booking. The house was placed under quarantine.
34 year old James Frederick Summers pleaded guilty to possession of a schedule VI drug for resale and possession of a prohibited weapon. He received a two year sentence on the drug charge, all suspended to probation except for 180 days to serve. He was also fined $2,000. Summers received a one year sentence on the prohibited weapon charge, all suspended to supervised probation. The two sentences are to run consecutively for a total of three years. He was given jail credit of 158 days. Smithville Police Chief Randy Caplinger said that on Thursday, September 20, 2012 as he was driving north in his patrol car on Tramel Street going toward West Main Street, a 2000 model Hyundai, driven by Summers, was approaching him, coming south on Tramel Street. He said the car almost hit him head-on. Summers pulled into the parking lot of DeKalb Community Bank. Chief Caplinger stopped the vehicle and detained Summers. A passenger of the car, 28 year old Joshua Cripps, got out and fled on foot. He was picked up later at another location in the county and was charged with evading arrest. Officer Chip Avera and Corporal Travis Bryant arrived to assist Chief Caplinger at the scene. Found in Summers’ car were 40 grams of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana wrapped in paper along with some drug paraphernalia. A check of Summers’ driving record revealed that he was driving on a revoked license. His license had previously been revoked for driving under the influence in Warren County and for two DUI’s in DeKalb County. Summers was taken into custody and his car was seized by police. Summers had in his possession a prohibited weapon (brass knuckles).
29 year old Daniel Ray Wilson pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and received a three year sentence in each case to run concurrently with each other and with General Sessions cases against him. The sentence was suspended to supervised probation except for 120 days to serve and he must make restitution if applicable. Wilson was given jail credit of 115 days. Smithville Police Chief Randy Caplinger said that on Thursday, October 18, 2012 at Taco Bell, Wilson allegedly broke the passenger side window of the victim’s vehicle with a brick and then reached inside and took her purse. Wilson was arrested again on Thanksgiving Day after allegedly breaking into a vehicle at NHC. Entry was made by breaking the back side glass out and taking items from the automobile.
35 year old Gary Ashford pleaded guilty to sale of a schedule IV controlled substance and received a three year sentence, all suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000. He also pleaded guilty to a violation of probation in another case and received a sentence of 120 days to serve. The sentences are to run consecutively. Ashford was given jail credit from November 27, 2012 to March 18, 2013 along with 21 days of previous jail credit.
37 year old Greg Patton pleaded guilty to attempted initiation of the manufacture of methamphetamine and evading arrest. He received a four year sentence to serve at 30% in the meth case and 11 months and 29 days to serve for evading arrest. The sentences are to run concurrently with each other. Patton was fined $2,000.