The DeKalb County Grand Jury Monday began a new term and indicted 47 people including nine who were named in sealed indictments.
All those indicted Monday will be arraigned on Monday, December 12 in DeKalb County Criminal Court.
Persons indicted and their charges are as follows:
Jordan Thomas Adams: aggravated assault, driving under the influence (3rd offense), and driving on a suspended license
Clay Andrew Bain: aggravated assault
Stephanie Michelle Bequette: simple possession of a schedule VI drug
Steven Darrell Bly: driving on a suspended license (2nd offense)
Randy Allen Caldwell: theft over $10,000 and possession of drug paraphernalia
Andy Joe Certain: possession of drug paraphernalia
Billy Eugene Cook, Jr.: auto burglary and criminal impersonation
Marina Gae Cornett: simple possession of a schedule VI drug
Jacob James Damon: theft over $1,000 and burglary
Amanda Pedigo Davis: aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, vandalism over $500, and vandalism under $500
Charles Dakota Derrick: possession of a schedule VI drug with intent to sell or deliver
Johnny Lynn Devault: theft under $500
David Drennan: violation of the sex offender registry
Tammye Estes: driving under the influence and violation of implied consent
Jerry Ray Ferrell: driving under the influence
Nathan Joseph Gohs: statutory rape (3 counts)
Brandon Timothy Greene: driving under the influence (2nd offense), driving on a suspended license, and failure to maintain lane
LeRoy Humphries: criminal trespass
Aimee Deanne Jobe: simple possession of a schedule III drug (Buprenorphine), simple possession of a schedule V drug (Pregabalin), and public intoxication
Jason Dwayne Johnson: driving under the influence, possession of a handgun while intoxicated, violation of due care, and violation of implied consent
Joseph Wayne Judd: possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams with intent to sell or deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia
Rodney Lynn Kirby: driving under the influence
James Matthew Martin: simple possession of a schedule VI drug and possession of drug paraphernalia
Gary Mooneyham: possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia
Nathan Morris: driving on a suspended license
Stephanie Ann Bly Murphy: driving on a suspended license (2 counts) and failure to maintain lane
Nathan Wesley Myers: possession of a schedule II drug (Hydrocodone) with intent to sell or deliver, possession of a schedule II drug (Hyrdomorphone) with intent to sell or deliver, and possession of a schedule VI drug with intent to sell or deliver
Shannon Lynn Newby: promotion of the manufacture of methamphetamine, simple possession of a schedule II drug (morphine) and simple possession of a schedule VI drug
Deanna Brooke Pedigo: driving on a suspended license
Melisa Poss Petty: leaving the scene of an accident with injury, violation of due care, violation of financial responsibility, and violation of the registration law
Michael Brandon Redmon: arson
Clarence Edward Sexton, Jr.: driving on a suspended license (3 counts) and driving under the influence
Perry Alton Stembridge: evading arrest
Tobby Lewis Taylor: driving under the influence (2nd offense), failure to maintain lane, and violation of implied consent
Kevin Clark Thomas: driving under the influence (2nd offense) and driving on a suspended license
Michael Glen Thomas: driving under the influence and violation of due care
Ramiro G. Torres: driving on a suspended license
Richard Brandon Turner: theft under $500
(CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW MUG SHOTS OF PERSONS RECENTLY BOOKED AT THE DEKALB COUNTY JAIL)
Seagate Crystal Reports – REPOR.pdf (2.52 MB)

A 44-year-old Smithville man, who was paroled in March 2015 after serving more than 12 years in a 2002 DeKalb County murder case, is back in prison after getting into trouble with the law in Putnam County in February.
Melvin Eugene Turnbill was sent back to the Bledsoe Correctional Complex at Pikeville earlier this year, according to Neysa Taylor, Director of Communications at the Tennessee Department of Correction who spoke with WJLE Tuesday.
Turnbill was released from prison on March 9, 2015 after serving over 12 years of a 25 year sentence for facilitation of first degree murder in the September 2002 fatal shooting of Joshua Murphy in DeKalb County.
Eleven months after getting out of prison, Turnbill committed two offenses that resulted in him returning to prison for violation of his conditions for parole. Turnbill was arrested for a DUI on Saturday, February 6 followed by a burglary charge two days later on Monday, February 8. Both offenses occurred in Cookeville. According to the Putnam County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, Turnbill later entered a plea to the DUI charge and was fined and sentenced to supervised probation. He made another court appearance on the burglary charge where he entered a plea to the lesser offense of aggravated criminal trespass and again was fined and sentenced to supervised probation to run concurrently with the DUI case and his state parole.
Turnbill’s next scheduled parole hearing in the murder case is set for February, 2018. His sentence is due to expire on January 7, 2022.
A co-defendant in the killing, Christopher Nicholas Orlando was denied parole in March. He is serving a 35 year prison sentence for facilitation of first degree murder in the death of Murphy. He is incarcerated at the Northeast Correctional Complex in Mountain City, Tennessee. His next parole hearing is in March, 2018.

A Saturday night fire destroyed the home of James Michael “Moose” and Becky Nokes at 677 Dry Creek Road near Dowelltown.
Central dispatch received the call at around 9:00 p.m.
“The residents called 911 and reported their basement was on fire. Upon our arrival, heavy smoke was observed coming from the basement and the first floor of the home,” said DeKalb County Fire Chief Donny Green.
“Firefighters entered the basement but the fire, heat, and smoke were too intense to reach the basement area where the fire had already begun to breach the first floor. Firefighters had to resort to a defensive attack to protect nearby exposures, three parked vehicles outside the basement door, and a detached garage,” Chief Green continued.
“The residents were able to safely escape the home, taking only a few personal items with them but the home and remaining contents were destroyed,” he said.
The Liberty, Temperance Hall, and Main Stations responded along with the department’s tanker truck, DeKalb EMS, and DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.
“The residents say they noticed the power flicker a few times, heard a loud pop, and then the power went completely out. When they went to investigate, the residents discovered the fire in the basement,” said Chief Green.
“Although no official determination of the cause of the fire has been made, it is suspected to have started in the electrical breaker box in the basement,” he concluded.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol was called to the scene of a rear end crash involving three vehicles Saturday evening on Highway 83 (Allen Ferry Road).
According to Trooper Bobby Johnson, 40 year old Melanie Stansberry of Smithville was traveling west on Highway 83 (Allen Ferry Road) in a 2001 Chevy Tahoe when she was forced to stop due to another vehicle having stopped in front of her. Behind Stansberry was a 2012 Chevy Equinox, driven by 66 year old Betty Davis of Smithville who was also traveling west. Following behind Davis was a westbound 2006 Kia Spectra, driven by 38 year old Joey Redmon of Smithville.
“Ms. Davis was slowing in her travel lane when Mr. Redmon failed to stop, striking Davis’ vehicle in the rear knocking her into the rear of Mrs. Stansberry’s automobile. Mr. Redmon stated his vision was obstructed by the sun which caused him to strike Ms. Davis’s vehicle. Mr. Redmon was transported to Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital. Mr. Redmon was issued citations for failure to exercise due care and financial responsibility,” said Trooper Johnson.
Neither Davis, Stansberry or her passenger, 46 year old William Stansberry were injured.

A 35 year old Smithville man was injured after losing control of his 2003 Ford Explorer on New Home Road (State Highway 83) Saturday afternoon. The vehicle overturned on its top.
Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said Joshua Isaac Melton was traveling east when his vehicle went off the right side of the highway into a ditch, hit a fence and then overturned on a road sign before coming to rest on its top.
Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department’s extrication and rescue team were called to the scene to help free Melton who was trapped in the vehicle. He was taken by DeKalb EMS to Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department was also on the scene.
Melton was later airlifted from the hospital to Vanderbilt Hospital

A midnight fire Friday destroyed a portion of a mobile home at 3620 Cookeville Highway .
The owner and resident, Debra Caldwell, escaped unharmed.
“Just before midnight (Friday) we were called to 3620 Cookeville Highway to a mobile home fire,” said DeKalb County Fire Chief Donny Green.
“Upon our arrival, we found half of the structure fully involved with other nearby structures threatened. The owner, Debra Caldwell, was at home and her dog awoke her. Caldwell then heard her smoke alarms sounding. The house became filled with smoke but Caldwell managed to escape with her purse and her dog. She went next door to her mother’s house and had her mother call 911,” Chief Green continued.
Members of the Cookeville Highway, Short Mountain Highway, and Main Stations responded along with the County Fire Department’s tanker truck, DeKalb EMS, and Sheriff’s Department.
“Another person rented half of the trailer but he was out of town for the holiday weekend,” added Chief Green.
“Approximately half of the trailer was totally destroyed and the remaining portion received extensive heat and smoke damage. The fire caused no damage to any nearby structures,” he said.
“Mrs. Caldwell and her dog suffered some smoke inhalation but Mrs. Caldwell refused medical treatment and transport by EMS”.
“The fire began in a kitchen area but the exact cause is under investigation,” Chief Green concluded.

The American Cancer Society invites you to make a special donation in honor or in memory of a loved one during the Christmas holiday season through “Love Lights a Tree”. A special memory board will be erected on the south side of the courthouse that will list the names of loved ones being honored and remembered.
The DeKalb County Unit of the American Cancer Society seeks your support in the “Love Lights a Tree” fundraising campaign to raise money for research to find a cure as well as cancer education and patient services. Donations may be made throughout the holiday season. The persons you honor or remember do not necessarily have to have suffered from cancer.
The names are in “honor of” and in “memory of” for a donation of five-dollars per name. Forms may be obtained at the local banks. For more information, contact Ivadell Randolph at 615- 597-5296, Lynda Luna at 615- 597-5837, Renee Cantrell at 615-684-2688, or Gail Taylor 615-597-5936

Since the election commission closed the Cherry Hill precinct some members of the county commission have expressed an interest in selling the property. But in order to do that the county will have to file an application with the Tennessee Department of Transportation to remove a deed restriction and purchase the 0.24 acre lot.
More than three decades ago, the state deeded the lot to the county at no cost but included a provision that requires the county to use the property “ for public purposes for the benefit of DeKalb County citizens”. The county later built a community center on the lot and still owns and maintains the facility although no one uses it anymore.
“At one point, it served its purpose but interest in the community center has declined to the point where no individual or group uses it anymore. The county maintains and upkeeps utilities, mowing, etc of the entire facility at taxpayer dollars with no use by its citizens. The building is also in need of repair. In the summer of 2011 there was an effort from several individuals in the community to revive the center but there was not enough interest. They made a web page when they tried to revive it. They had tee shirts printed up. They had meetings and tried to have a barbeque to raise money but there was no interest. That was the last organized effort by the community dealing with the center. We have had nobody call wanting to rent or use it,” County Mayor Tim Stribling told the county commission during a committee meeting Tuesday night.
“I looked on the property data map and it still shows the (Cherry Hill Community Center lot) on the state right of way. I called the Department of Transportation in Chattanooga and they looked back on the deed. Although the state deeded it to us (county), DeKalb County did not buy the property. Since the land must be used for public purpose for the benefit of citizens of DeKalb County according to the deed, we will have to go through the process of filing an application to the state and go before the excess land committee to ask for the deed restriction to be removed. In order to do that the property will have to be appraised and we will have to purchase the property. Not the building but the lot. While the property belongs to the county, we can’t sell it because of the deed restriction. The state will send somebody out to look at the lot and if it’s valued at under $10,000 they will do an appraisal. If it’s valued at over $10,000 they will get an independent appraiser. They will only appraise the lot, not the building,” said County Mayor Stribling.
The county commission will discuss the issue again during the regular monthly meeting Monday night, November 28 at 6:30 p.m. in the downstairs courtroom of the courthouse.

DeKalb County’s unemployment rate for October was 5.8%, down slightly from 5.9% in September and well below the 6.3% rate for October, 2015.
The local labor force for October was 7,580. A total of 7,140 were employed and 440 were unemployed.
Jobless rates for October among the fourteen counties in the Upper Cumberland region were as follows from highest to lowest:
Jackson:7.2%
Clay: 6.2%
Van Buren: 6%
Cumberland:6%
DeKalb: 5.8%
Pickett:5.7%
Fentress: 5.6%
Overton: 5.4%
White:5.2%
Warren: 5.1%
Putnam: 5%
Cannon:4.7%
Smith: 4.4%
Macon:4.4%
County unemployment rates for October 2016 show the rates decreased in 80 counties, increased in seven, and remained the same in eight counties.
For the month of October, Davidson County had the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate at 3.7 percent, decreasing from 3.9 percent the previous month. Knox County was 4.1 percent in October, down from 4.3 percent in September. The Hamilton County rate was 5.0 percent, decreasing from 5.1 the previous month. Shelby County was 5.7 percent, also decreasing from 5.8 the previous month.
Tennessee’s preliminary unemployment rate for October was 4.8 percent, increasing two-tenths of a percentage point from the previous month’s revised rate. The U.S. preliminary rate for October was 4.9 percent, decreasing one-tenth of a percentage point from the previous month.
The state and national unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted, while the county unemployment rates are not. Seasonal adjustment is a statistical technique that eliminates the influences of weather, holidays, the opening and closing of schools, and other recurring seasonal events from economic time series.

Two landowners are at odds over whether a portion of a county road in the Wolf Creek area should be closed.
Andy Redus is asking the county commission to close 1,085 feet of the end section of Taylor Lane where he has a part time residence.
Taylor Lane is located near the intersection of Wolf Creek Road and the Buffalo Valley Road-Medley Amonette Road. Redus, who lives out of the county, said he wants to install a gate to restrict access to his private property for public safety concerns. “My residence is not a full time residence. I have no way of telling what’s going on there all the time,” Redus told the county commission during a committee meeting Tuesday night. Redus wants to keep out sightseers, trespassers, and litterers. He has already obtained permission from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, an adjoining landowner, to erect the gate provided the Corps has access.
Janice Martin, who also has property on Taylor Lane, is opposed to the closure because an old cemetery is located on the road inside the area where Redus wants to put the gate. Although the cemetery has been there for over a century and is unkept with overgrowth Martin said the road should remain open for anyone who wants to visit there. “This road is not only to my cemetery back there that’s family, there are other people in this county I have talked to who own businesses that have people buried in that cemetery. This is not just the two graves that you can see (stones showing) because the markers (of the other graves) are not there now. It’s a very old cemetery,” said Martin in addressing the county commission.
The DeKalb County Regional Planning Commission held a public hearing in September where Martin voiced opposition but voted to recommend to the county commission that Redus’ request be approved subject to the right of access of visitors to the cemetery located at the end of Taylor Lane and that a hammerhead turnaround which meets with the approval of the Road Supervisor be developed at the expense of Redus.
Martin said the turnaround is not large enough especially for emergency vehicles. “I am totally opposed to closing the road. Andy knew when he bought the property what he was buying. We own both sides of the road all the way back passed that area. I’m within 50 feet of the turnaround so I will have to use that turnaround on a daily basis. I took one of our hay wagons behind my vehicle back there and I could barely get turned around. It is very hard to do. I may also build another house within 50 feet of this property so I will have to have access to fire trucks, ambulances, or other emergency vehicles that would have to come in there. They would have to use this turnaround,” said Martin.
Redus claims the turnaround is large enough and provided pictures showing where he turned around there with a pickup truck pulling a sixteen foot trailer.
Redus said he would provide a key to Corps officials for access to Corps property and make access available to others requesting entry to the cemetery by opening the gate himself remotely from his phone.
During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the County Commission is expected to vote on a resolution recommended by the planning commission, which if approved, would grant Redus’ request to close 1,085 feet of the end section of Taylor Lane with the aforementioned conditions.
The meeting will be Monday, November 28 at 6:30 p.m. in the downstairs courtroom of the courthouse.