
News
January 11, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
Local and state law enforcement agencies converged near Man Hill Road, Dowelltown Saturday afternoon where a body was found.
In a prepared statement, Sheriff Patrick Ray said “On January 11, 2025 at 1:01 PM a call came into Dispatch about a body that had been found off of Man Hill Road in Dowelltown. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, 13th District Attorney General ‘s Office were summoned to the scene. The body has been sent to Nashville for identification by the Medical Examiner. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department are investigating. No more details are available at this time,” said Sheriff Ray.
Elderly Man Gets Suspended Sentence for Solicitation
January 11, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
An elderly man charged with solicitation of a minor for indecent exposure appeared in DeKalb County Criminal Court Tuesday.
78-year-old William Lloyd Woolridge entered a plea to solicitation and received a two-year suspended sentence. His name will be on the sex offender registry as a nonviolent offender.
61-year-old Shelia Zaruba entered a plea to aggravated assault and received a three-year sentence with 64 days of time served suspended to supervised probation. No fine was imposed but she must have no contact with the victim.
37-year-old Randi Dossett entered a plea to sale of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams and received an eight-year sentence all suspended to supervised probation. Dossett was fined $2,000. She was given 45 days jail credit.
32-year-old Amber Merlo entered a plea to possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams for sale and theft over $2,500. She received a total sentence of eight years. That’s eight years in the drug case and two years for the theft to run concurrently and all suspended to supervised probation. Merlo must make restitution to the victim. She was fined $2,000 and given jail credit of 139 days.
47-year-old Barry Ohl II entered a plea to two counts of sale of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams and received an eight-year sentence all suspended to supervised probation in each case to run concurrently. He was fined $2,000 and given 48 days jail credit.
42-year-old Matthew Baker entered a plea to sale of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams and received an eight-year sentence all suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000 and given 47 days jail credit.
29-year-old Eric Lane Petty entered a plea to sale of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams and sale of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) under 0.5 grams. He received a total sentence of eleven years including eight years in one case and three years in the other to run concurrently and all suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000. Petty was given 144 days jail credit.
25-year-old Robert Stephen Derrick entered a plea to sale of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) and received an eight-year sentence suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000 and given 52 days jail credit.
37-year-old Kerry Parker entered a plea to possession of methamphetamine under 0.5 grams. He will be on supervised probation for four years. Parker was also fined $2,000.
30-year-old Ronald Glen Ragan entered a plea by criminal information to possession with intent to sell a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams. He received an eight-year sentence suspended to supervised probation and was fined $2,000. Ragan was given 44 days jail credit.
48-year-old Lynda Neville entered a plea by criminal information to possession of a schedule II drug over 0.5 grams and received an eight-year sentence all suspended to supervised probation. She was fined $2,000- and 214-days jail credit.
39-year-old Brandon Keith Thomas entered a plea by criminal information to possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) under 0.5 grams (2 counts) and received a six-year sentence in each case to serve at least 30% before his release eligibility date. The two cases are to run concurrently. He was fined $2,000 and given jail credit of 154 days.
28-year-old Rodnesha Daniels entered a plea by criminal information to theft of property over $2,500 and received a two year sentence on supervised probation subject to judicial diversion.
Youth Deer Hunt January 11 & 12 to Bring 2024-25 Season to Close
January 10, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
The statewide deer hunting season has come to a close except for the second young sportsman hunt which will be Saturday and Sunday, January 11 & 12.
During the gun season, sportsmen may also use muzzleloaders or archery equipment. The statewide bag limit for antlered bucks is two. No more than one antlered deer may be taken per day, not to exceed two for the season.
Anyone born on or after January 1, 1969 is required to carry proof of satisfactory completion of a hunter education class or be in possession of the apprentice hunter education permit along with other required licenses while hunting any species in Tennessee. Hunter education can be completed online for free along with in-person options offered by the TWRA.
“The youth hunt is the same as the statewide season,” said TWRA officer Colt Elrod. “If you are a youth and you have not killed your two bucks, or killed one and want to harvest a second buck, you can do that. Its for gun, muzzleloader, archery. Pretty much all the state rules apply but its for youth only. If you are a parent you can accompany your child on the hunt but you can’t harvest a deer. Its for youth through the age of 16. Once you are 10 years old you need to have your hunter safety credentials and if not you have to get the apprentice hunter safety license. If you are under age 13, get your Junior hunt & fish license,” said TWRA Officer Elrod.
