Anderson Faces 8-12 Years for Theft of CFEC Truck

August 23, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A 52-year-old man convicted of stealing a Caney Fork Electric Cooperative truck almost three years ago will learn his fate in December.

David Dewayne Anderson stood trial on August 10 in DeKalb County Criminal Court for theft of property over $60,000 and was convicted as charged by a jury made up of six men and six women. Judge Wesley Bray presided. Anderson will appear for sentencing on December 6 and could get from 8-12 years for the crime.

According to Assistant District Attorney General Greg Strong, the stolen truck, a 2017 F-350 was taken from the Warren County home of a Caney Fork Electric Cooperative lineman in December, 2019.

“Caney Fork Electric allows their linemen to drive the trucks home. The lineman, who testified at trial, said he parked the truck that afternoon and went inside and didn’t come back to it until that next morning and it was gone,” said Strong.

“The next day after the truck was reported stolen, Smithville Police found Anderson at the car wash in Smithville by Hardees washing the truck. Anderson had been seen getting out of the driver’s seat so it was clear he had been driving it and it appeared he was trying to pressure wash the decals off the truck. When confronted by police, Anderson said he had no knowledge of anything and that he was washing the truck only because it was dirty. As we understood it from interviews with other folks Anderson and a co-defendant, who has since died, were going to try to sell the truck,” said Assistant D.A. Strong.

Although Anderson did not testify in his own defense, he apparently maintained his innocence even though he was found in possession of the truck. “Through his own statements he put himself at the scene when the truck was taken but then came back and said he didn’t steal it but if you read the theft statute it doesn’t matter if you are in possession its theft and even though the truck was returned, the value of it is what determines the classification of the felony charge,” added Strong.

According to Strong, the stolen truck had some damage and company tools from the vehicle were missing along with a camera that had been mounted on the rearview mirror. Some tools found in the truck, Anderson claimed belonged to him.

August 23, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

When it comes to man’s best friend, they come any better than “J.D.” the WJLE/DeKalb Animal Shelter featured “Pet of the Week”

This beautiful Australian Shepherd can be yours for only $180 which is his adoption fee.

“J.D. is our senior pet,” said Shelter Director Emmaly Bennett. “He looks great for his age. J.D. is about 11 ½ years old and he has been neutered and is up to date on all his vaccinations. J.D. has also been heartworm screened, micro chipped, the whole nine yards. He looks like a fluffy teddy bear. J.D. is wonderful with people especially kids but he does not like other dogs which is common with this breed. Australian Shepherds tend to be territorial, so J.D. needs to be the only pet in the household. Just give him a couch to lay on and someone to hang out with and he will be happy and you will have a new canine friend to give love and attention to. Visit our website at https://www.dekalbanimalsheltertn.com/ and fill out and submit an adoption application and we will call you to come in and meet J.D.,” said Bennett.

The shelter is open Monday-Friday from 8 to 4 and Saturday from 8 to 12 on Transfer Station Road behind Tenneco Automotive.

August 23, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A man who stole a 2006 Dodge Ram pickup truck belonging to the City of Smithville Fire Department last year was sentenced Monday in DeKalb County Criminal Court.

44-year-old Mark Beall entered a plea to theft over $10,000 and received a three-year sentence to serve. He was given jail credit from March 23, 2021 to August 22, 2022.

On March 23, 2021, Beall drove off in the truck which was parked at the fire station downtown. Beall was later pulled over in the truck and arrested in McMinnville.

The truck was easy to spot as it was decaled “Smithville Fire Rescue” on both sides. Equipment was mounted on the pickup, and it had $2,000 worth of extrication tools in the back of the truck.

A report filed by Smithville Police Officer Travis Bryant at the time stated that “On Tuesday, March 23, 2021, at approximately 6:59 am I received a call from (Fire Chief) Charlie Parker and was asked if the 2006 Dodge Ram fire truck was in the fire department bay. I walked next door and observed the bay door open and the side door to the fire hall open. I notified Charlie Parker that the truck was missing and immediately issued a “Be on the lookout” or BOLO with central dispatch for a stolen truck.

Charlie stated that he received a call from one of his firemen that had seen the truck on Keltonburg Road, A short time later he (Beall) was stopped in the vehicle by McMinnville Police and Warren County Sheriff’s Department officers. The truck with mounted equipment was valued at $8,000 and there was approximately $2,000 worth of extrication equipment in the back of the truck. The truck and equipment were recovered ” the report stated.

Officer Bryant further stated in his report that “During the course of the investigation, camera footage was recovered which showed the outside of the City Hall/ Smithville Police Department building for several hours. During that time he (Beall) was observed looking in windows and possibly tampering with a police car. Camera footage recovered showed him (Beall) outside from around 11:00 p.m. until about shift change at 6:00 a.m. When an officer pulled up he (Beall) was seen going around the rear of the building to avoid police. It was a short time later that the truck was observed on Keltonburg Road,” the report concluded.

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