Jury Convicts Owens of Illegally Selling Heroin and Methamphetamine

April 6, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A day long jury trial of a man charged with sale and delivery of heroin and methamphetamine ended in a conviction Thursday in DeKalb County Criminal Court.

A jury of six men and six women found 42-year-old Michael Chad Owens guilty as charged in the four-count indictment including one count each of sale and delivery of heroin and one count each of sale and delivery of methamphetamine. The jury also fined Owens a total of $90,000 including $40,000 for sale of heroin, $15,000 for delivery of heroin, $20,000 for sale of methamphetamine, and $15,000 for delivery of heroin.

Owens was among several people indicted in June 2020 as a result of an undercover drug investigation conducted by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.

“From the testimony at trial of Chief Deputy Brian Williams and Detective Stephen Barrett, they were contacted by a confidential informant which they have used in the past and she indicated to them that she had access to Owens and that he was selling heroin and methamphetamine. At that point they used that confidential informant to conduct a controlled purchase of heroin on June 21, 2019 and the methamphetamine on June 25, 2019,” said Evan Smith, Assistant District Attorney of the 13th Judicial District who prosecuted this case.

After the jury’s announcement, the presiding trial judge Wesley Bray revoked Owens’ bond and remanded him to the custody of the sheriff pending the outcome of a sentencing hearing set for June 20. Owens will remain in jail at least until then and perhaps a lot longer. Although he has not had a long history of drug offenses, Owens is a convicted felon in at least five prior burglaries and one theft case.

Because of these crimes and his criminal past, Owens could get up to a total of 45 years in prison, according to Smith.

“The sale and delivery of a schedule I narcotic (heroin) is a B felony and with Owens’ range as a persistent offender he is looking at serving at least 45% of a 20-30 sentence for the B felonies but these two charges (sale and delivery) will most likely merge because it was a sell and delivery in one transaction, “Smith told WJLE.

“As to the other counts, sale and delivery of a schedule II narcotic (methamphetamine), that is a C felony. In the persistent range, that is 10-15 years. Because of his persistent status and violent criminal history, Owens is looking at a potential consecutive sentence. That is certainly what we will be asking for at the sentencing hearing,” said Smith.

Owens was represented at trial by attorney Mingy Ball.

April 6, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A 62-year-old man was injured in a bizarre crash Thursday morning when his car plunged off a steep bluff near Sligo Bridge.

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Bryan K. Boring was traveling southbound on Sligo Road (the entrance road off Highway 70 east to Sligo Marina) in a 2016 Ford Escape attempting to negotiate a left turn when he ran off the right side of the road into the parking lot. The car then went over a concrete traffic barrier, overturned, and rolled over a steep embankment until it came to final rest on its side in between two trees on the side of the bluff near the lake.

In addition to the TWRA, Sheriff’s Department, and DeKalb EMS, the DeKalb County Fire Department’s Rescue Team and the Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad were summoned to the scene. Boring, trapped in the vehicle, was removed by rescue personnel, placed in a stokes basket, lowered to an awaiting pontoon boat on the lake at the bottom of the bluff, and then brought to the Sligo boat ramp where he was loaded onto an ambulance and taken to the hospital. Boring’s injuries were not believed to have been life threatening.

In a statement, County Fire Chief Donny Green said that “on April 6, the DeKalb County Fire Department was dispatched to Sligo Marina for a vehicle that had gone over the bluff. One person was trapped in their vehicle as it hung over the bluff. The Extrication team, along with the Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad and a passerby in a tow truck were able to secure and stabilize the vehicle preventing it from falling into the lake,” said Chief Green.

“The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and personnel from Sligo Marina assisted at the scene,” he added.

April 6, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

The FBLA State Leadership Conference was held in Chattanooga April 2-5, 2023. DCHS once again returned with many awards. Thanks to all the students who participated and the community for the continued support.
Congratulations to local FBLA State Conference Winners:

4th Place – Business Ethics Team: Andrew Dakas, Seth Fuson, Dallas Kirby

2nd Place – Business Management: Luke Midgett

2nd Place – E-Business: Xavier Parker

2nd Place – Entrepreneurship Team: Conner Close, Brayden Summers, Ian Colwell

1st Place – Graphic Design Team: Karson Smallwood, Ayden Jones

4th Place – Health Care Administration: Ella Hendrixson

1st Place – Intro. To Business Communication: Madeline Martin

1st Place – Network Design Team: Zoe Cripps, Katherine Gassaway, Darrah Ramsey

Top 8 – Digital Video Production Team – Isaac Brown, Matthew Nokes, Brett Walker
Health Care Administration – Abby Cross
Human Resource Management – Laurie Rigsby
Impromptu Speaking – Cameron Miller
Intro. To Business Communication – Caroline Crook
Intro. To Business Procedures – Emily Robinson
Journalism – Jade Mabe

Health Care Administration-Owen Snipes.

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