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Three Originally Arrested in 2022 Deer Road Hunting Incident Sentenced in Criminal Court

May 20, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Three men charged in a case 18 months ago stemming from a road hunting incident were sentenced last Tuesday, May 14 in DeKalb County Criminal Court.

43-year-old Jeremie Donald Johnson, 22-year-old Isaac Daniel Hall, and 23-year-old Elijah Thomas Hall were each originally charged with two counts of reckless endangerment and one count of vandalism. Johnson was also charged with unlawful possession of a weapon. Isaac Daniel Hall was later charged and indicted for aggravated burglary and theft of property over $2,500 in a separate case.

All three men appeared in DeKalb County Criminal Court May 14.

Johnson entered a plea to the felony charges of reckless endangerment and attempted possession of a firearm. He received a 2-year sentence in each case to run consecutively for a total of 4 years, but all suspended to probation. A restitution amount is to be determined. On January 20, 2023, Johnson entered a plea in General Sessions Court to the misdemeanor offense of hunting from across the road or within 100 yards of a house and spotlighting deer. In that case, Johnson received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on probation, and he lost his hunting privileges for 2 years.

Elijah Hall pleaded guilty to vandalism under $1,000 and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days suspended to supervised probation. Restitution is to be made jointly and severally with the co-defendants in the case. On January 20, 2023, Hall entered a plea in General Sessions Court to the misdemeanor offense of hunting from across the road or within 100 yards of a house and spotlighting deer. In that case, Johnson received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on probation and lost his hunting privileges for 2 years.

Isaac Daniel Hall entered a plea to aggravated burglary and vandalism over $1,000 and he received in the burglary case a 4-year TDOC sentence on supervised probation and a 2-year term for the vandalism with supervised probation to run consecutively for a total of 6 years. On March 13, 2023, Hall entered a plea in General Sessions Court to the misdemeanor offense of the illegal taking/possession or destruction of wildlife and received a six-month sentence suspended to supervised probation with a lifetime suspension of his hunting privileges.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said at the time of the incident that on November 5, 2022 after receiving a report from a resident on Lower Helton Road, Alexandria that someone had fired a shot through his home, sheriff’s department detectives started an investigation which pointed to two men, Johnson and Isaac Hall, who had allegedly fired a shot from the roadway while deer hunting which went through the residence where a man and woman were present placing them in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury. Although the residents were not injured from the shooting, more than $1,200 in vandalism was reported inside their home including damage to a window, interior walls, and a light fixture.

Johnson, a convicted felon for different offenses of aggravated assault in DeKalb and Wilson County, was found to be in possession illegally of several firearms upon his arrest on November 11, 2022.

Isaac Hall was also found to be in possession of several weapons at the time of his arrest on November 11, 2022 which the detectives learned were stolen from a residence either that day or the day before on Hurricane Ridge Road.

Sheriff Ray said the investigation revealed that Isaac Hall had allegedly broken into the home on Hurricane Ridge Road and taken a Remington 7-millimeter rifle, 22 caliber Ruger rifle, and a 50-caliber muzzleloader all valued at $3,900 which were all in Isaac Hall’s possession upon his arrest. The homeowner also reported missing from his home a 357 Magnum Remington.

In other cases, 38-year-old Jennifer Dawn Johnson entered a plea by criminal information on May 14 to possession of over 0.5 grams of methamphetamine with intent to sell and she received an 8-year sentence all suspended to supervised probation. She was fined $2,000. Johnson was given jail credit of almost one month.

28-year-old Quajonta Jeremies Cason entered a plea by criminal information to possession with intent to sell under 0.5 grams of the schedule II drug methamphetamine and received a 6-year TDOC sentence suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000. Cason was given jail credit of almost three months.

55-year-old Theodore Aguayo entered a plea to possession with intent to sell under 0.5 grams of the schedule II drug methamphetamine and received a 6-year TDOC sentence suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000 and is to be granted judicial diversion if eligible.

36-year-old Randi Renee Dossett entered a plea by criminal information to possession with intent to sell over 0.5 grams of the schedule II drug methamphetamine and received an 8-year TDOC sentence suspended to supervised probation. She was fined $2,000.

32-year-old Joshua McAllen Beckham entered a plea by criminal information to possession with intent to sell under 0.5 grams of the schedule II drug methamphetamine and received a 6-year sentence suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000 and given jail credit of almost two months.

51-year-old Laura Carol Ratliff entered a plea to first offense of driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended to CPS probation except for 48 hours to serve. She will lose her driver license for one year.

24-year-old Damion Alexander Dishman entered a plea to attempting to sell a schedule I drug and received a 6-year sentence all suspended to TDOC probation pursuant to judicial diversion. He was fined $2,000.

54-year-old Angela Joan Close entered a plea to attempted sale of a schedule II drug and received a 3-year sentence suspended to TDOC probation pursuant to judicial diversion. She was fined $2,000.




Smithville Police Department Increases Seat Belt Enforcement During National “Click It Or Ticket” Mobilization

May 19, 2024
By:

As summer kicks off and families hit the road for vacation, the Smithville Police Department is partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) to remind motorists to Click It or Ticket. From May 20 through June 2, participating agencies across the state will increase seat belt enforcement as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) nationwide mobilization.

“We want seat belt use to be an automatic habit for drivers and passengers alike,” said Police Chief Mark Collins. “It’s not just a safe thing to do — it’s the law. During the Click It or Ticket campaign, we’ll be working with our fellow law enforcement officers across local and state lines to ensure the message gets out to drivers and passengers. Buckling up is the simplest thing you can do to limit injury or save your life during a crash. We see the results of not wearing a seat belt all the time. We see the loss of life. So often, it could have been prevented.”

There have already been 391fatality reports this year in Tennessee

One focus of the Click It or Ticket campaign is nighttime enforcement. NHTSA data shows a higher number of unrestrained passenger vehicle occupant fatalities happen at night. Also, seat belt use differs among females and males. According to Tennessee’s Integrated Traffic Analysis Network (TITAN), 43% of males killed in Tennessee crashes last year were unrestrained. Of females killed in crashes, 35% were not buckled up. Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night. In City of Smithville, the maximum penalty for a seat belt violation is $50.00.

For more information about seat belt safety, visit www.tntrafficsafety.org/seat-belts.




DeKalb County Recognizes EMS Week May 19-25

May 19, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A week dedicated to celebrating emergency service workers is being recognized in DeKalb County.

The community relies on emergency workers to rush to the rescue, no matter what the circumstance.

County Mayor Matt Adcock has signed a proclamation designating May 19-25 as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week in DeKalb County. EMS Director Hoyte Hale joined County Mayor Adcock for the occasion.

“We are proud of our DeKalb County EMS employees, EMTs, Paramedics, First Responders and Dispatchers. They are on the front lines, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Their commitment, dedication and bravery speaks to their character and willingness to serve others, not just this week, but every day of the year. We are honored to celebrate their service this week, and we are grateful to them every day,” said Adcock.

The proclamation is as follows:

“Whereas, Emergency Medical Services is a vital public service; and Whereas, the members of Emergency Medical Teams are ready to provide lifesaving care to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and

Whereas, access to quality Emergency Care dramatically improves the survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury; and

Whereas, the Emergency Medical Services system consists of emergency physicians, emergency nurses, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, firefighters, educators, administrators, and others; and
Whereas, the members of Emergency Medical Services teams, whether career or volunteer, engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their lifesaving skills; and

Whereas, it is appropriate to recognize the value and the accomplishments of Emergency Medical Services providers by designating Emergency Medical Services Week;

Now, Therefore, I Matt Adcock, County Mayor, DeKalb County, Tennessee, in recognition of this event do hereby proclaim the week of May 19-25 as Emergency Medical Services Week.

With the theme, “Honoring our Past, Forging Our Future”, I encourage the community to observe this week with the appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities”.

Members of the DeKalb EMS Staff in addition to Director Hoyte Hale (EMT-P) are:

A-Shift:
Tony Williams-EMT-P/SUPERVISOR
Donna Melton-AEMT
Nathanial Brannen-EMT-P
Keely Ping-AEMT

B-Shift:
Kristie Johnson-EMTPCC/ICQA
Misty Green-AEMT/SUP
Dennis Sherman-EMT/PCC
Heather Billings-EMT-B

C-Shift:
Trent Phipps-EMT-P/ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Jessica Wilson-AEMT
Rachel Checchi-AEMT

D-Shift:
Matt Melton-EMT-PCC/SUP
Trevin Merriman-EMT-P
Zechariah Clark-EMT-B
Richard Kellogg-AEMT

Day Truck:
Jamie Parsley-AEMT
Akita Dodson-EMT-B

Day Truck:
William Frisby-AEMT
Dylan Goodman-EMT-B

Part-Time Staff:
Houston Austin-EMT-PCC/IC
Aspen Flarity-EMT-PCC/IC
Clayton Anstis-EMT-PCC
Matt Vaughn-EMT-PCC/IC
Kim Johnson-EMT-PCC
Marie Turpin-EMT-PCC
Terrance Hall-EMT-P
Charles Nokes-EMT-P
Daniel Summers-EMT-P
Matthew Terrell-EMT-P
Becky Atnip-AEMT
Ed Brooks-AEMT
Tony McCulley-AEMT
David Pitts- EMT-PCC
John Poss-AEMT
John Pitts-EMT-PCC
Jon Jenkins-EMT-P
Alexis Olsen-AEMT
Dylan Fisher-AEMT
Jerry Wakefield-AEMT
Wes Eldridge-EMT-B
Molly Hicks-EMT-B
Chandler Johnson-EMT-B
Jenna Wright-EMT-B




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