December 25, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
An Alabama man has been returned to DeKalb County to face charges stemming from a 2015 burglary and theft.
36 year old Derik Keith Gulley of New Hope Alabama was arrested on December 16 for aggravated burglary, theft of property, and being a fugitive from justice. Gulley’s bond is $85,000 and his court date is January 30.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on April 22, 2015 Gulley broke into a home on Pea Ridge Road, Liberty by prying open a basement door. Once inside he stole several items of jewelry and later sold them to a pawn shop in Murfreesboro. Those items were recovered in 2015.
According to Sheriff Ray the delay in bringing Gulley to justice here is because he has been incarcerated elsewhere on other charges. He was picked up and returned to DeKalb County from Lincoln County on December 16. Meanwhile it has been discovered that Gulley is wanted in Huntsville, Alabama for a probation revocation resulting from the burglary of a vehicle there. Authorities in Alabama plan to extradite Gulley back there once he faces his charges here.
25 year old James Dillan Matthews of Page Drive, Smithville is charged with assault. His bond is $3,500 and he will make a court appearance on January 9.
Sheriff Ray said that on December 14 Matthews, an inmate at the jail, assaulted another prisoner by hitting him in the head multiple times and punching him. The assault was captured on jail surveillance video.
44 year old Richard Leon McDaniel, Jr. of Hayes Ridge Road, Lancaster is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon. His bond is $5,000 and he will be in court January 9.
Sheriff Ray said that on December 16 a deputy went to McDaniel’s home on Hayes Ridge Road to recover property under a court order and found a loaded Taurus .38 special revolver. McDaniel admitted that he was a convicted felon. Records show that he was convicted for aggravated assault in 2016.