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City of Smithville Launches New On-Line Property Tax Payment Option

September 28, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The City of Smithville is launching a new on-line service for city property owners to pay their 2022 taxes.

2022 Smithville Property Tax notices will be mailed Friday, September 30.

“You can go to our website at www.smithville city hall.com and there’s a link to the far right where it says “Pay Property Tax”. Click on that link and it takes you right to the screen where you can do a search by tax year (2021 or 2022), name, address, map/parcel, subdivision and it will pull up the information including the taxes owed. It’s pretty simple. You can add it to the cart, and it walks you through the process on how to pay online,” said City Tax Clerk Holly Anderson.

City officials say the online service is also a great research tool for mortgage companies, banks, title and loan businesses and others needing information.

If you pay online a processing fee of 2.50% will be added to your total tax bill or $1.00 per transaction for ACH payments. You may also pay over the phone by calling 1-866-216-9551. Of course, you may pay in person at city hall or mail in your payment

City property taxes are due and payable without penalty through February 28, 2023.

Smithville water and sewer customers may also access the website at www.smithville city hall.com to pay water and sewer bills although this service has been available for some time. You may also pay water and sewer bills by phone at 1-877-308-6272. Again, you may also pay in person at city hall or mail in your payment.




Arrests Made in Aggravated Assault Cases Involving Guns

September 28, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Arrests have been made in recent days in aggravated assault cases involving a gun.

25-year-old Bradley Cole Emberton of North Judkins Lane, Smithville is charged with aggravated assault. He is under a $25,000 bond and he will be in court on September 29.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on September 12 a deputy was dispatched to North Judkins Lane due to a domestic. Upon arrival, the deputy spoke with a woman who said that she and her husband, Emberton, had gotten into an argument. The woman claimed that during the argument, Emberton pulled out a black .380 pistol from his pocket and said that he did not care to kill her. Emberton allegedly admitted to brandishing a firearm during the argument. A black Ruger LCP pistol was recovered from the scene.

Meanwhile, 66-year-old Dennis Lee Maxwell of Oak Place Drive, Smithville, is charged with aggravated assault. He is under a $10,000 bond and will be in court on September 29.

Sheriff Ray said that on September 18 a deputy was summoned to Oak Place Drive on a report of threats being made to the caller. Upon arrival, the deputy spoke with a man who said that he and his neighbor, Maxwell, had been in an argument over his fence. The victim claimed that Maxwell pointed a gun at him and threatened to kill him during the argument. The deputy reviewed surveillance video footage and saw that Maxwell was holding a firearm during the argument.

In other cases, 25-year-old Andrade Ricardo Angulo of McMinnville, is charged with sexual battery. He is under a $45,000 bond and he is due in court on October 13. Sheriff Ray said that on September 25 Angulo allegedly tried to force himself sexually on a woman.

24-year-old Deviyon Quawnyah Johnson-Griffin of Gary, Indiana is charged with theft of property over $1,000, criminal simulation, and forgery. He is under a $105,000 bond and he will be in court on October 6.

Sheriff Ray said that on September 22 this man tried to cash a forged check in the amount of $2,070.52, at Liberty State Bank in Liberty, from Cedar City RV. It was confirmed by the company that the check was forged. The case was investigated by a detective with the Sheriff’s Department with assistance from Alexandria Police Chief Chris Russell.

44-year-old Eureka Elizabeth Conners of Circle Drive, Dowelltown, is charged with filing a false report. She is under a $3,000 bond and will be in court on September 22.

Sheriff Ray said that on September 13 while trying to serve a warrant on her husband a deputy spoke with Conners who said several times that he was not there with her at the residence. However, the man was found to be at the home and was arrested while Conners was charged with giving a false report.

41-year-old Brandy Lynn Bass of Circle Drive, Dowelltown, is charged with domestic assault. She is under a $2,500 bond and will be in court October 13.

Sheriff Ray said that on September 25 a deputy responded to Circle Drive in response to possible physical domestic. The deputy spoke with a man who said that he was trying to get his food stamp card from Bass but she would not give it back. During the confrontation Bass allegedly ripped the man’s shirt and scratched his abdomen. A witness confirmed that the man was the victim.

53-year-old Billy Eugene Cook of Floyd drive, Smithville, is charged with public intoxication. He is under a $1,500 bond and his court date is September 29.

Sheriff Ray said that on September 12 a deputy was summoned to Cantrell Lane, Smithville, in response to a call of a suspicious person in the caller’s yard. Upon arrival, the deputy spotted Cook walking in front of the Cantrell Lane residence. The officer confronted Cook who told the deputy that he was headed for a particular destination and thought this home was the location. Cook’s eyes were glossy, and he appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance. The homeowner said he wanted Cook removed from his property. Cook was then taken into custody.

33-year-old Megan Elizabeth Murphy of McMinnville is charged with driving under the influence. She was further issued citations for light law violations, misuse of registration, and failure to maintain lane of travel. Murphy is under a $1,500 bond and she will be in court on September 29.

According to Sheriff Ray, a deputy was patrolling McMinnville Highway on September 12 when he spotted a white Chevy Colorado traveling with no headlights and failing to maintain its lane. Upon initiating a traffic stop, the deputy confronted the driver, Murphy, whose eyes were glossy, and she had a strong odor of alcohol on her. Murphy was also unsteady on her feet. She admitted to consuming four to six beers earlier in the evening. Murphy submitted to field sobriety tasks but performed poorly.

42-year-old Joseph Paul Deskins is charged with driving under the influence. He is under a $1,500 bond and will be in court October 13.

Sheriff Ray said that on September 15, a deputy noticed a man, Deskins, passed out in the driver’s seat of a maroon Chevy truck. When the deputy awoke Deskins, he noticed an open Budweiser in the cup holder, and one empty and another full in the floorboard. The officer asked Deskins to step out of the vehicle and while he complied Deskins had a difficult time exiting the truck and he stumbled. Deskins also had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person. He submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks.




Woman Murdered One Week Ago to be Laid to Rest

September 28, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The woman murdered in her home one week ago will soon be laid to rest.

The funeral for 39-year-old Yuri Lidia Guerra Desirena of Smithville and a native of Mexico will be Thursday at 5 p.m. at the Smithville First Assembly of God with visitation Thursday 2 PM until 5 PM. Following the service, she will be taken back to Mexico for burial. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Meanwhile, her boyfriend, 35-year-old Simon Rodriguez Martinez remains in jail without bond until his preliminary hearing on October 11. The District Public Defenders Office will represent him.

Martinez is charged with first degree murder in the death of Desirena by allegedly repeatedly hitting her in the head with a hammer at their home at 620 South Mountain Street early Wednesday morning, September 21 in the presence of three children.

The case is being investigated by the Smithville Police Department, TBI, and District Attorney General’s Office.




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