A Smithville man arrested by the Sheriff’s Department in November, 2015 after he was found with a meth lab in his car during a routine traffic stop for registration violation, appeared in Criminal Court for sentencing Monday, August 8.
Judge Gary McKenzie presided.
48 year old Gregory Allen Mayo entered a plea to initiation to manufacture methamphetamine and possession of a schedule II drug over .5 grams. He received an eight year sentence in each case to serve at 30% before his release eligibility date. The terms are to run concurrently.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Monday, November 30, 2015 a deputy stopped a white Ford Crown Victoria at West Broad Street and Anthony Avenue in Smithville for a registration violation. The car belonged to Mayo but he was a passenger. During the investigation Mayo admitted that methamphetamine and a firearm would be found inside the car. Upon searching the trunk, the deputy discovered lye, drain opener, propane fuel with a cook head, acid in a liquid gasser, Coleman fuel, plastic tubing, cold packs, electrician tape, coffee filters, and Hydrogen Peroxide. A Mason jar containing a white residue was also found in the side floor board of the car which field tested positive for methamphetamine. Mayo also had in his right front pants pocket, a bag containing 1.3 grams of a white powdery substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine. The deputy further discovered a Smith & Wesson 40 caliber pistol in the back seat and a cigarette pack on the passenger seat where Mayo was seated which contained what was believed to be a marijuana cigarette. Sheriff Ray said Mayo is a convicted felon of a drug offense on May 24, 2013.
76 year old Frank Thomas of Liberty entered a plea Monday to simple assault and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on CPS probation. Thomas must forfeit a weapon and he is under a restraining order to keep away from the victim in the case. Thomas was accused of pointing a gun at another motorist (family member) while chasing after him in his vehicle at high speeds on Highway 56 South in September, 2014.
A Cookeville man believed to be responsible for recent thefts and burglaries last month appeared in DeKalb County Criminal Court Monday.
20 year old Tyler Johnston Arnett entered a plea by criminal information to theft over $1,000 and auto burglary. He received a three year sentence for the theft and two years for auto burglary. The sentences are to run concurrently with each other to be suspended to supervised probation. Arnett has requested judicial diversion. He must make restitution of $78 to one of the victims in the case.
Sheriff Ray said that on Tuesday, July 12 a deputy was dispatched to the Pine Grove Subdivision where a vehicle was observed parked in the road. Upon arrival, the officer found an abandoned 2000 GMC dual wheel truck in the road with the head lights on. During the investigation, the sheriff’s department received another call in the same area where a resident suspected someone had been in his vehicle. Arnett was later spotted by a deputy riding a pink and purple bicycle in the neighborhood. After stopping him and checking further, the officer discovered that Arnett had allegedly stolen both the bike and the truck (valued at $3,500) and had broken into another vehicle, taking a brown tri-fold wallet containing a JC Penny card, a Chase Mastercard, a Sears card, and a BP gas card. Arnett was believed to have been under the influence of an intoxicant. He was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred. Arnett told the officer that he did not know where he was or where he had been. Meanwhile, other people in the area reported being suspicious of someone having been in their vehicles but nothing was missing. The burglaries and thefts were investigated by a Sheriff’s Department Detective. A deputy arrested Arnett on a public intoxication charge.
A Monterey woman was sentenced Monday on a January 2015 theft charge after trying to steal a shopping cart full of merchandise from Walmart in Smithville.
32 year old Tasha Marie Cooke entered a plea to theft over $1,000 and received a four year sentence all suspended to supervised probation. The term is to run consecutive to a sentence against her in Cumberland County.
Smithville Police were dispatched to Walmart in reference to a shoplifter on January 20, 2015. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with an employee who said that Cooke had loaded a shopping cart full of various merchandise and went out the front doors and into the parking lot. After being confronted, Cooke allegedly admitted that she was stealing the items for her friends. Items in the cart included flashlights, purses, and other merchandise with a total value of $1,742.
A 50 year old man charged with assault for allegedly threatening a county deputy in May was sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court Monday.
Douglas Ray Ferrell entered a plea by criminal information to assault and resisting arrest and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days at 75% all suspended to supervised probation in each case. The sentences are to run concurrently with each other but consecutive to a violation of probation against him
Ferrell was arrested on Saturday, May 7 for assault and for resisting stop, frisk, halt, arrest or search. Sheriff Ray said that a deputy responded to a residence on Midway Road for a possible domestic. As the officer was talking to the woman who placed the call, Ferrell ran out of the house and charged toward the deputy holding a wire plant hanger. Although the officer ordered him several times to stop and go back inside the house, Ferrell continued toward the deputy and drew back the hanger as if he were going to hit him before throwing it to the ground. But after dropping the hanger, Ferrell again approached the deputy with a raised fist in a fighting stance. Ferrell was forcibly subdued by the deputy and placed under arrest.
27 year old Daniel Lee Preston entered a plea by criminal information to reckless driving and violation of the implied consent law. He received six months probation for the reckless driving and a $50 fine for the implied consent violation. His driver license has been revoked for one year. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, May 21 a deputy responded to a wreck at Sligo Marina. Upon arrival the officer spoke with Preston who said he was operating a vehicle which backed into another automobile involved in the wreck. Preston had a strong odor of alcohol on his person. His speech was slurred and he was very unsteady on his feet. Preston told the officer that he had consumed five or six beers within the previous hour or two. Preston refused to submit to field sobriety tasks and a blood test.
45 year old Gary C. Boatwright entered a plea to evading arrest and received a three year sentence to serve as a range 1 offender. The term is to run concurrent with a sentence against him in Wilson County. He was given jail credit from November 7, 2015 to August 8, 2016. Sheriff Ray said that on Saturday, November 7, 2015 a sheriff’s department deputy attempted to stop a vehicle on Highway 70 west for failing to maintain his lane of travel. The driver pulled to the shoulder of the road but did not come to a complete stop. He then took off again. The officer began a pursuit on Highway 70 which continued onto Highway 96. The pursuit was terminated at Cannon County. After an investigation, officers learned that Boatwright was the driver and a computer check of Boatwright’s license showed they were revoked for a DUI.
28 year old Amanda Brooke Washer entered a plea to evading arrest and simple possession. She received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days in each case all suspended to supervised probation. The terms are to run concurrently with each other but consecutive to a General Sessions court case against her. Sheriff Ray said that on Tuesday, May 3 Washer intentionally fled from law enforcement officers by running from them as they were trying to serve an arrest warrant on her. Washer was forcibly taken into custody. A search of her belongings revealed two spoons with residue which field tested positive for cocaine; two used hypodermic needles; and two lighters and tissue paper. Washer was named in a sealed indictment by the grand jury last month on the simple possession charge (marijuana) from a December 14, 2015 incident.
44 year old Tonya Silcox entered a plea to possession of drug paraphernalia and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended to supervised probation. Smithville Police were dispatched to McDonald’s Restaurant on August 27, 2014 to investigate a wreck. Upon arrival, the officer was told by a deputy that he saw Silcox’s automobile hit another vehicle in the drive through and then pull out onto the highway in front of traffic, almost causing another accident. Silcox was pulled over and she was asked to step out of her vehicle. Silcox performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and was very unsteady on her feet. During a search incident to arrest, police found a diabetic testing kit containing several syringes and crushed straws. The syringes contained a yellow residue consistent with drug use. One straw was found in her purse. Silcox was placed under arrest.
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