Alexandria Man Sentenced in Burglary and Vandalism Case

December 12, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A man arrested during a burglary in progress at a business on Brush Creek Highway at Alexandria on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 has been sentenced for the crime.

21-year-old Michael James Dodd of Alexandria entered a plea by criminal information in DeKalb County Criminal Court before Judge Wesley Bray on Tuesday, December 6 to vandalism over $10,000 and burglary other than a habitation and received a total sentence of five years (5 years for the vandalism and 4 years for the burglary to run concurrently on supervised probation and concurrently with a case in Wilson County where he is under probation supervision.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on October 12, 2021 a deputy was called to the scene of the crime due to a burglary in progress. Upon arrival the officer saw that the front door of the business (Sunoco) had been broken and he found Dodd inside the building behind the counter stuffing items from the store in a bag. Two teens were also inside the business. When the officer ordered him to stop and show his hands, Dodd turned and took off running through the store trying to escape but he and the juveniles were placed in custody.

Several bags containing an estimated $5,760 worth of hemp, vape and tobacco products were recovered during the investigation which Dodd and the teens were apparently trying to make off with. Also found in the store was a pry bar, hammer, and bat believed to have been used in the break-in.

Vandalism to the building was estimated at $18,500 including damage to the front glass door, side glass window, glass stop and pay machine, three ceiling tiles, DVR, computer, and burglar alarm control box.

Dodd was originally charged in the case with possession of burglary tools, evading arrest, theft of property over $2,500, vandalism over $10,000, and burglary. Petitions were taken against the two teens charging them with committing a delinquent act in the case.

Meanwhile, a Woodbury man was sentenced for the crime of breaking into a building on Sparta Highway in May, 2020.

22-year-old Nicholas Miles Herlong entered a plea to burglary and received a four-year sentence all suspended to supervised probation to be supervised by TDOC Rutherford County.

Sheriff Ray said that on May 15, 2020 Herlong broke out several windows before entering the building but was later caught within one mile of the scene by law enforcement. Herlong was bleeding heavily from his arms upon his arrest and blood stains were found in the building he was charged with breaking into.

Two persons charged with vandalism for spray painting vulgar graffiti on the amphitheater and playground equipment at Green Brook Park in September have been sentenced for the crime.

20-year-old Daisy Elizabeth Hernandez Morales and 19-year-old Alex Diaz Vidal each entered a plea in DeKalb County Criminal Court by criminal information to the charge of vandalism over $1,000 and were given supervised probation for two years under a judicial diversion agreement. Restitution if any must also be paid.

Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins said Morales and Vidal along with a juvenile entered the park sometime late Monday night, September 19 or early Tuesday morning, September 20 and spray-painted vulgar graffiti on the amphitheater and playground equipment. The minor was named in a juvenile petition.

49-year-old Tonza Larue Wheeler entered a plea by criminal information to criminal simulation and theft over $2,500. He received a total sentence of four years (2 years in the simulation case and 4 years for the theft) to run concurrently and all suspended to supervised probation. Wheeler was given jail credit of 56 days.

According to the charges, Wheeler, on or about September 22, 2022, intended to defraud Liberty State Bank of $9,842 by making or altering an object (check) so that it appeared to have value because of authorship with the intent to pass the check.

A woman charged in an October knife attack was sentenced Tuesday.

25-year-old Megan Lynn Warden entered a plea by criminal information to aggravated assault and received a four-year sentence all suspended to supervised probation. She was given jail credit of 54 days.

According to Smithville Police, Warden and the victim got into an argument behind the residence of 624 Highland Street and during the confrontation, Warden pulled out a knife and cut the victim on her face and jawline.

21-year-old Markus Jay Majka entered a plea to possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) under 0.5 grams and received a six-year sentence all suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000.

Sheriff Ray said on August 4, 2020 two detectives pulled over a black Mazda for failure to maintain lane of travel (swerving) on Miller Lane. The driver, Majka, had no license. He consented to a search of his vehicle which yielded seven baggies of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine in amounts of 0.55 grams, 0.46 grams, 0.65 grams, 0.33 grams, 0.38 grams, 0.28 grams, and 0.39 grams. Also, during the search, the officers found a scale, 17 additional baggies with residue, several glass pipes, and other drug paraphernalia in the car.

53-year-old David Dewayne Anderson entered a plea to attempted possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) with intent to sell and received a sentence of four years to serve consecutively with another case. He was fined $2,000.

Sheriff Ray said that while on patrol March 23, 2020 deputies spotted a black Ford Escape leaving an area known for drug activity and discovered that the tag on the vehicle did not match. It was supposed to be on a red Nissan. Detectives conducted a traffic stop on West Broad Street, Smithville and learned that Anderson, a front seat passenger, was the owner of the vehicle. A check of Anderson’s driver license revealed that he had active warrants against him for violation of probation in DeKalb County. One of the detectives searched Anderson and found three baggies of a substance believed to be heroin that weighed 1.67 grams, one baggie of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine that weighed 0.52 grams, and a baggie with an orange pill believed to be suboxone. He also found seventeen additional baggies, two digital scales, residue, a glass pipe, needles, and other drug paraphernalia.

25-year-old Justice Namen Williams entered a plea to a second offense of driving under the influence (2 counts) and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days in each case to run concurrently with each other, but all suspended to supervised probation except for 45 days to serve. Williams was fined $600 and will lose his license per Tennessee Department of Safety regulations. He must also undergo an alcohol and drug assessment. Wilson was given 46 days jail credit. The term is also to run concurrently with a Wilson County case against him.

Sheriff Ray said that on January 5, 2021 a deputy was dispatched to South Tittsworth Road where a vehicle was off the side of the road in a driveway. The two people inside were passed out.

Upon arrival the deputy found the driver, Williams passed out behind the steering wheel and the keys to the automobile were in the ignition. A strong odor of alcohol was also coming from the vehicle. An open can of Mike’s Hard Lemonade was on the driver’s side floorboard. After being awakened, Williams submitted to standardized field sobriety tasks but performed poorly. He resisted while being placed under arrest by trying to pull his arms free of the deputy. Williams had a prior DUI offense against him which was committed on August 29, 2017 in Wilson County.

While conducting an inventory of the vehicle before it was towed, the officer found 14 peach-colored pills and 3 half pills believed to be diazepam which were near where the passenger was seated in the automobile.

December 11, 2022
By:

The DeKalb County High School Senior BETA Club recently participated in the state convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center from November 28-30.

BETA is a club that promotes the ideals of academic achievement, character, service and leadership among elementary and secondary school students.

BETA sponsors Ann Inglis and Tera Mooneyham accompanied 29 members who all competed in state events while there. These members were: Isaac Brown, Laila Clark, Zoe Cripps, Annabella Dakas, Noah Evans, Aniston Farler, Katherine Gassaway. Alyssa Gilpin, Allison Goodwin, Alyzandra Griffith, Kathryn Hale, Madeline Martin, Cameron Miller, Evelyn Mitchell, Briana Murphy, Peyton Norris, Sheridan O’Connor, Katie Patterson, Joyce Portillo, Darrah Ramsey, Zeva Robinson, Julio Sabastian, Brayden Shehane, Bobby Truong, Morgan Walker, Brett Walker, Layla Walker, Nathaniel Wessel, and Robert Wheeler.

Congratulations to Peyton Norris who placed 2nd in the state for 11th grade language arts and Robert Wheeler who placed 5th in the state for 12th grade social studies.

December 10, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County Fire Department was dispatched to a house fire on Seven Springs Road Thursday night at approximately 8:21 p.m. Sheriff’s Department deputies discovered the fire when they attempted to serve a legal notice on a person that had reportedly been staying at the residence.

Firefighters quickly arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire that was contained to a bedroom. The remainder of the residence received heat and smoke damage. No one was at the home when the residence was searched, but three dogs were found that had succumbed to smoke inhalation.

Due to the suspicious elements of the incident, investigation was turned over to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

The Belk, Four Seasons, Short Mountain, and Main stations responded to the scene along with DeKalb Emergency Medical Services, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Dept., and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

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