Electrical Inspector Indicted for Theft and Official Misconduct (View PDF here)

July 27, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A state electrical inspector of Smithville was named in a sealed indictment returned by the DeKalb County Grand Jury this week for official misconduct and theft of property.

55-year-old Shannon Lee Patterson of Olen Drive is under a $10,000 bond and will be arraigned in DeKalb County Criminal Court on August 7.

The case was investigated by the District Attorney General’s Office of the 13th Judicial District.

District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway told WJLE Thursday that according to the investigation, Patterson, who was an electrical inspector for the state accepted fees from numerous individuals, businesses, churches, etc. without performing inspections.

The list of victims totals more than 270. (View pdf here)

https://wjle.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/23cr85.pdf

One count of the indictment states that “between the dates of January 1, 2020 and April 11, 2022 in DeKalb County and before the finding of this indictment, Patterson did unlawfully and knowingly obtain or exercise control over property, including but not limited to, cash valued at over $10,000 belonging to (victims) with intent to deprive the owners thereof and without the owner’s effective consent in violation of state law”.

The second count of the indictment alleges that “between the dates of January 1, 2020 and April 11, 2022 in DeKalb County and before the finding of this indictment, Patterson did unlawfully and knowingly, while acting as a public servant, commit an offense with intent to obtain a benefit by theft, in violation of state law”.

PDF

July 27, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

The Alexandria Police Department has a new police chief.

Travis Bryant, a former longtime officer of the Smithville Police Department, has been hired by the Alexandria Mayor and Aldermen as Chief to succeed Chris Russell, who stepped down last week to become a detective for the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.

“I am proud to be the new police chief in Alexandria,” said Bryant. “I look forward to doing everything I can for the people of Alexandria and to continue working with all levels of government. My desire is to continue moving Alexandria forward with a proactive police department and good community relations”.

Travis, who also serves as constable in the third district of DeKalb County, began his law enforcement career with the White County Sheriff’s Department in 2003 as a corrections officer and reserve deputy. In 2006, Bryant went to the state police academy and graduated after which he joined the Smithville Police Department where he worked for 17 years before taking on this new position as Alexandria Police Chief. In 2016 Bryant graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice through online studies from Liberty University and is on track to earn his master’s degree in public administration this winter.

Other members of the Alexandria Police Department are Jackson Franks and Brandon Deffendoll along with a part timer Larry Allison.

July 27, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Two women who worked for the food service provider at the DeKalb County Jail were named in sealed indictments by the Grand Jury this week charging them with having sexual contact with an inmate.

29-year-old Jessica Ann Perez and 50-year-old Edna Viola Pentz both of Underhill Road, Smithville are each under a $10,000 bond and will be arraigned in DeKalb County Criminal Court on August 7. They have both been terminated from the company.

The women were not county employees and did not work for the sheriff’s department. Again, their employment was with the provider contracted with the county to operate the food service at the jail preparing meals for the inmates.

The indictments against the two allege that “between the dates of March 1, 2023 and April 11, 2023 in DeKalb County and before the finding of this indictment, Jessica Ann Perez and Edna Viola Pentz did engage in sexual contact with a prisoner or inmate who is in custody at a penal institution (DeKalb County Jail)”.

According to the sheriff’s department, this case involved two inmates and the alleged sexual contact between these women and them amounted to touching or oral acts but not intercourse.

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