Smithson Charged with Arson

46 year old Jeffery Smithson of Viola Road Trailer Park is charged with arson.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says detectives had been investigating Smithson for theft from a mobile home on Stoner Road near the Rollertown Road in the southern part of the county and through that investigation Smithson became a suspect in the arson case. He was charged on July 28th. Smithson allegedly went to the mobile home on June 28th, broke into the residence, and stole items from there. Smithson then allegedly set fire to the residence and fled. The fire caused extensive damage to the home. Bond for Smithson was set at $75,000 and he will appear in court on August 13th.
Also on July 28th, deputies went to the residence of 34 year old Misty Shehane , who lives on Carter Street in Smithville to execute a state violation of probation warrant on 38 year old Michael Glen Thomas of West Main Street Dowelltown. While there, officers spotted components of a methamphetamine lab and summoned county detectives to the scene. Found in the home were items such as tubing, used coffee filters, turkey basters, lye, charcoal starter fluid, red phosphorus, muratic acid, and other components used in the methamphetamine process. After obtaining consent to search, authorities found a fully operational methamphetamine lab in a box in the bed room that Thomas was occupying. Thomas was charged with manufacture of a schedule II drug (Methamphetamine). His bond is $50,000 and he will appear in court on August 6th.
Detectives also charged 31 year old Nancy Felts Brown also of West Main Street Dowelltown with manufacture of a schedule II drug (Methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia. Brown allegedly purchased or supplied items that were used in the Methamphetamine production process. Brown’s pocket book contained a cut straw and a pill crusher and straws were found on a chest of drawers in the bedroom where she slept. Brown’s bond was set at $26,000 and she will appear in court on August 6th.
After an investigation into Misty Shehane’s involvement, detectives charged her on July 30th with manufacture of a schedule II drug (Methamphetamine) by having knowledge that Methamphetamine was being produced and for supplying a place for the illegal drug to be produced. Shehane was also charged with child neglect for allowing her two children, ages 23 months and 4 years of age, to be in the home or to live in a home where she had knowledge that Methamphetamine had been manufactured. Shehane’s bond was set at $30,000 and she will appear in court on August 6th. The Department of Children’s Services was contacted and the two children have been placed with family members. More charges are pending.
34 year old William Howell of Fairview Circle, Sparta was charged with theft of property over $10,000 on July 29th. Detectives received a report on July 25th that two jet skis and a double jet ski trailer were stolen from a boat ramp near the River Watch Golf Course in the eastern part of the county. Detectives were able to obtain a tag number by viewing video surveillance tapes from the River Watch area. Through their investigation, detectives learned that Howell was the person who allegedly stole the items. Bond for Howell was set at $10,000 and he will appear in court on August 6th.. The two jet skis and trailer have been recovered by the detectives. Sheriff Ray says Howell has since admitted his involvement in the crime.
On July 31st, deputies stopped 35 year old Carlos Garcia of Bradyville Pike Apartments, Murfreesboro for a traffic offense on Highway 70. After speaking with Garcia, officers noticed a strong smell of alcohol on his person and Garcia’s speech was slurred. Garcia submitted to field sobriety tasks which he failed. A computer check of Garcia’s driver’s license showed them to be revoked on May 19th, 2008 for not having insurance. Garcia was charged with driving under the influence and driving on a revoked license. Garcia’s bond was set at $2,000 and he will appear in court on August 20th.
Deputies arrested two people after a traffic stop on Big Rock Road on August 1st. The officers initially spotted the vehicle sitting in the middle of Evins Mill Road. It then pulled away but stopped again on Big Rock Road where the driver swapped seats with the passenger. Arrested was 24 year old Michael Frederick Teachout of Students Home Road Smithville. He was charged with driving on a revoked license. Teachout’s license had been revoked due to a driving under the influence conviction on February 25th in DeKalb County. The officer making the arrest saw Teachout swap from the driver’s seat to the passenger side seat.
The passenger who swapped to the driver’s seat was 29 year old Kym Denise Curtis of Judge Warren Road McMinnville. Curtis was found to have an odor of alcohol on her person and she was unsteady on her feet. She submitted to field sobriety tasks which she failed. Curtis was charged with driving under the influence and her bond was set at $1,000. Her court date is September 3rd. This is the second time Curtis has had a run in with the law in the last few days.