Man and Woman Indicted for Aggravated Child Abuse After Allegedly Using Taser on 5-Year-Old Child

July 27, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A man and woman who allegedly used a taser on a five-year-old child have been indicted for child abuse and aggravated child abuse.

35-year-old Mark Dwayne Cantrell of Smithville and 39-year-old Nikesha Danielle Cooper of McMinnville will be arraigned in DeKalb County Criminal Court on August 7. Bond for Cantrell is $200,000 and $300,000 for Cooper.

According to the nine-count indictment, the offenses occurred on or about August 26, 2021 when the child was five years old until August 25, 2022. The child’s date of birth is July 27, 2016.

“This was a situation where a taser was used on the child”, District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway told WJLE Thursday.

Both Cantrell and Cooper are co-indicted for two counts of aggravated child abuse and four counts of child abuse. Cooper is also indicted for one additional count of aggravated child abuse and two additional counts of child abuse.

The counts against the two for aggravated child abuse allege that “On or about August 26, 2021 to August 25, 2022 in DeKalb County and before the finding of this indictment, Cantrell and Cooper did unlawfully, knowingly, and other than by accidental means, abuse (victim), a child under 18 years of age, such act of abuse, neglect, or endangerment was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, or involved the infliction of torture to the victim, thereby committing the offense of aggravated child abuse in violation of state law”

The counts against Cantrell and Cooper for child abuse allege that “On or about August 26, 2021 to August 25, 2022 in DeKalb County and before the finding of this indictment, Cantrell and Cooper did unlawfully, knowingly, and other than by accidental means, abused or neglected, and inflicted injury on (victim), a child under 18 years of age, such act of abuse or neglect so as to adversely affect the child’s health and welfare, thereby committing the offense of child abuse in violation of state law”.

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.

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