Hernandez Gets 12 Year Prison Sentence in 2020 Kidnapping Case

May 5, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A man charged in a local kidnapping case almost three years ago was sentenced Monday, May 1 in Putnam County Criminal Court where he was making an appearance for a separate offense there.

22-year-old Anthony Emmanuel Hernandez, originally charged with especially aggravated kidnapping and theft over $2,500, entered a plea to a charge of aggravated kidnapping and received a 12-year prison sentence to serve at 100%. He was given jail credit from October 29, 2020 to May 1, 2023.

According to Lieutenant Detective James Cornelius of the Smithville Police Department, Hernandez and another man, 42-year-old Larry Payne, Jr. allegedly participated in the robbery, beating, and kidnapping of Terrance Martin on July 9, 2020 in Smithville. Payne was charged with the same offenses as Hernandez along with the charge of aggravated assault and violation of probation. The cases against Payne apparently remain pending.

Lt. Detective Cornelius explained Friday how the case unfolded.

“We (SPD) were called to a residence at 402 South Mountain Street on the night of July 9, 2020, by Christina Mayo who said she was asked by her boyfriend, Payne to go clean up the house but when we (police) arrived no one was there. We later learned that the renters of the home were in jail at the time but that their friends, including Payne and Mayo had access and used the residence as a hangout place.”

“The next day, July 10 I started an investigation and obtained a search warrant to enter the house. Inside the living room, we found a puddle of blood in the floor, blood on a couch, and observed blood on a door post outside. I then called TBI for assistance”.

“Before I finished at the house, Terrance Martin showed up at police department to report his vehicle had been stolen from that location (402 South Mountain Street). Although we later learned from him that he had been the victim of the attack, Martin initially didn’t want to talk about anything but the theft of his car, a white 2015 Buick Lacrosse. I later spoke with him in my vehicle and as we drove around, he gave me more details saying that he had met Hernandez and Payne the night of July 9 at Colonial Properties (formerly Short Mountain Villages) and that they attacked him as he approached them in the driveway. Martin said his assailants then forced him into the trunk of his car and drove to 402 South Mountain Street, where they got Martin out of the trunk and brought him into the living room of the residence. They then took his money and phone, pistol whipped him in the head, put a bag over his head and tied him up by the wrists before again putting him in the trunk of the car and driving outbound on West Broad Street. Around midnight and somewhere near the Wilson Bank and Trust location, Martin was able to free himself from his restraints, popped open the trunk, and escaped from the moving car. He walked to the hospital where he called for his girlfriend to come pick him up. Martin later returned to the hospital for treatment and then went to the police department,” said Lt. Detective Cornelius.

Martin’s car was later found abandoned on Holmes Creek Road.

“During the investigation, Mayo said she had been at the residence at 402 South Mountain Street earlier that night (July 9 and prior to the attack on Martin) but that she had been contacted by Payne and told to leave. Sometime after she left, Mayo said Payne called for her to return to the home to clean it up.”

“We (police) later contacted Hernandez and he gave a statement after which he was released. When we got more information, we took warrants on both Hernandez and Payne”.

“While trying to serve the warrants, we learned that Hernandez had left the state. We put out the information and found that he was at the home of his grandfather in Seguin, Texas. I reached out to the police department there and they picked him up. Sergeant Will Judkins and I later went there to bring Hernandez back here,” said Lt. Detective Cornelius.

Payne was subsequently served with the warrants against him and at the time was housed in Putnam County where he was wanted for probation violation. He is now in prison in the Bledsoe County Correctional Complex for felony offenses committed in Putnam and Shelby Counties.

May 5, 2023
By:

DTC Communications, a leading fiber internet provider, has been selected as one of thirty pilot partners for the launch of Fiber Gaming Network (FGN), a nationwide gaming platform that connects fiber internet users across the country for weekly community game nights and tournaments.

FGN, which is set to launch in May, will host a series of online gaming events every week featuring popular games such as Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Madden NFL 23, Brawlhalla, Fortnite, Rocket League, NBA2k23, and Valorant. Participating players must register beforehand and have the chance to win cash prizes of $500-$1,500 every week.

“We’re thrilled to partner with FGN to offer our customers a unique gaming experience that takes full advantage of our fiber network’s speed and reliability,” said Chris Townson, CEO DTC Communications. “With FGN, our customers can enjoy a seamless online gaming experience while competing with gamers from all over the country.”

According to a 2021 study, fiber internet is 10 times faster than cable and offers better latency, resulting in a smoother and more responsive online gaming experience. This partnership between DTC and FGN highlights the importance of fiber internet for online gaming and solidifies DTC’s position as a forerunner in providing top-quality internet service.

“FGN is excited to partner with DTC to offer gamers across the country access to high-speed, reliable fiber internet that allows for seamless online gaming experiences,” said Robert Gilbert, co-founder of Fiber Gaming Network. “We look forward to seeing how DTC’s customers will fare in our upcoming events.”

For more information on FGN and to register for the upcoming gaming events, visit https://FiberGamingNetwork.com.

DTC Communications is a member owned telecommunications cooperative established in 1951. DTC provides world-class broadband and technology solutions to improve the quality of life of our members and communities in the regions we serve.

May 5, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce and the DeKalb County Mayor’s office would like to invite residents across the county to participate in the DeKalb County Clean Up on Saturday, May 6th.

“We are encouraging everyone to form teams at your work, neighborhood, or organization, then post pictures with the name of your team to the Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber or DeKalb Clean Up Facebook Page,” said Chamber Executive Director Suzanne Williams.

The DeKalb Clean Up event will be held in conjunction with the Keep America Beautiful initiative going on across the country.

DeKalb Clean Up volunteers are asked to stop by the DeKalb County Complex on May 6th between 9 AM and 10 AM to sign-in and pick up the provided trash bags, rubber gloves, and bottles of water. “We will be taking a group picture at 9:30 AM for the media if you like to participate in that. If you can’t be there to sign-in, call the Chamber office at 615-597-4163 to be counted as a DeKalb Clean Up volunteer — just give your name and the general area where you will be working,” Williams continued.

“Right now, Keep America Beautiful® is working hard to restore and build more resilient communities across the country to Clean and Green America by 2030! They are doing this through the power of the Keep America Beautiful affiliates, volunteers, and partners,” she said.

The Great American Clean Up takes place annually with an estimated 500,000 volunteers taking part in 15,000 community events nationwide through programs that deliver positive and lasting impact through events focused on waste reduction, recycling, beautification, and community greening.

County Mayor Matt Adcock says, “We invite people to come out and help clean up around our communities and highways. Folks are welcome to pick up litter at places of their choice, or we will be glad to assign a safe place for you.”

“We would like to remind everyone that DeKalb County’s peak tourism season is about to begin, so now is a great time to start getting things spruced up for our coming visitors. Working together, we can better ensure that our public places are beautiful and healthy spaces,” said Williams.

To get a head start on clean up, dumpsters are set up at highly visible and convenient locations prior to the main event. Dumpster locations are at the Dowelltown Community Center, Liberty Community Center, Alexandria City Parking Lot (behind square), and the DeKalb County Complex parking lot.

“You, too, can become part of this growing movement to beautify and unify communities across the country to transform the nation. Whether you’re cleaning up around a street, a highway, park, ballfield, stream, or your own home, what a difference we can make through working together to make our communities safer, healthier, and more livable,” said Williams. For more information, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 615-597-4163.

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