Court of Appeals Reportedly Overturns Ruling of DeKalb Circuit Judge in Agee Case

February 4, 2019
By:

In a unanimous decision by the three-judge panel, the Court of Appeals of Tennessee at Nashville has reportedly overturned a DeKalb County Circuit Court ruling by Judge Jonathan Young on the civil case of Sherry Smith vs Hannah Nicole Palmer regarding the death of Lauren Taylor Agee. It was the opinion of the Appellate Court that Judge Young did not rule properly and the decision has been reversed.

Sherry Smith is the mother of Lauren Taylor Agee, whose body was discovered in Center Hill Lake on July 26th, 2015. Lauren had been camping with several friends at the time of her death. Ms. Smith alleges that those friends, in some manner, caused her daughter’s death and conspired to cover it up.

The summation of the Appeals Court decision was a reversal of the grant of Summary Judgment and the reversal of the ruling on the striking of evidence presented by the plaintiff including testimony from former police officers, current police officers, private detectives, a forensic specialist as well as Ms. Smith herself. The case now will continue, as previously scheduled, with a jury trial.

Smith filed a $10 million dollar wrongful death lawsuit in DeKalb County Circuit Court in July 2016 against several individuals claiming that her daughter, was killed through the intentional, negligent, or reckless acts of the defendants.

Agee’s body was found on Sunday afternoon, July 26 2015 by fishermen on Center Hill Lake near Still Point Boat Ramp across from Pates Ford Marina.

According to reports at the time, Agee had been enjoying an outing with friends known as “Wakefest” over that weekend and was camping near the edge of a steep cliff overlooking the lake prior to the tragedy.

Smith is seeking a judgment against the defendants for compensatory damages in the amount of $10 million; a judgment for punitive damages in an amount to be determined by a jury trial; and costs and such other further relief that the Court deems just and proper.

February 4, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Do you prefer a one week or two week fall break for DeKalb County students and teachers?

As it makes preparation to submit a recommendation to the Board of Education for the 2020-21 school year the calendar committee would like to know what the public thinks.

You are asked to vote on the following web poll now posted at www.wjle.com

“Which calendar option do you feel most benefits the students, employees, and families of DeKalb County”?

1. Two Week Fall Break

2. One Week Fall Break with a One Week Thanksgiving Break

DeKalb County students and teachers had a two week fall break in October, 2018 but next school year (2019-20) the school calendar will return to a one week fall break in October with a full week off for Thanksgiving in November, 2019. The Board of Education set the school calendar for the 2019-20 school year in March, 2018.

While results of the web poll will be considered, it will not be the sole determining factor in the committee’s recommendation to the Board of Education. Input from teachers and parents will also be sought.

February 3, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A Portland man was arrested by Smithville Police last month after he was spotted acting suspiciously in the Restview Avenue neighborhood.

42 year old William Andrew Robertson was charged on January 16 for criminal impersonation, simple possession and he was cited for driving on a suspended license and violation of the open container law. While on routine patrol, an officer spotted a man get out of his vehicle and run behind a residence on Restview Avenue holding a flashlight. Due to several reports of suspicious people in the area the officer got out of his vehicle, approached the man, and asked him to identify himself. The man gave a name but the picture provided from a computer check did not match the name. After asking him again, Robertson gave his correct name. During a search incident to arrest, Robertson was found to have 1 gram of a crystal-like substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine. His license were also found to be suspended. After Robertson was arrested an inventory of his vehicle turned up an open can of alcohol in the floorboard on the passenger side and an open bottle of whiskey in the passenger seat. His bond is $6,000.

42 year old Chad William Johnson of 190 Greenwood Drive was cited on January 18 for simple possession. Police responded to Wal-Mart due to a suspicious person on the property. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the suspect, Johnson and learned that he had 6 pills believed to be Acetaminophen/Oxycodone on his person for which he could produce no prescription. His court date is February 14.

64 year old Jimmy Lee Ridner of Smithville was arrested for public intoxication on January 18. Police were dispatched to Bridgeway Motel due to an unwanted guest. Upon arrival the officer found the man, Ridner sitting in a car that did not belong to him and he refused to get out of it. He was drinking a beer and smelled of alcohol. Police tried to get a ride for the man and someone came forward to have him taken to the Cookeville Rescue Mission as he is homeless but Ridner allegedly threatened to hit the good samaritan with his cane. Due to his being intoxicated and not wanting help Ridner was transported to the police department and charged with public intoxication. His bond is $1,500.

40 year old Hector Alejandro Caballero of 519 Talley Road was arrested on January 20 for DUI and he was cited for violation of the open container law and littering. Police responded to Taco Bell where a man was reported to be passed out behind the wheel of a truck setting in the drive thru. Upon arrival the officer spotted the truck go around the parking lot and the driver threw out an open beer before parking. The officer approached the driver, Caballero, and detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person. Caballero was asked to exit the vehicle and perform sobriety tasks. Caballero was unsteady on his feet. His speech was slurred and his eyes glossy. Police determined that he could not perform the tasks due to medical reasons. Caballero was also believed to be under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. He was placed into custody. His bond is $1,500 and his court date is February 7.

22 year old Cayton Trey Lance of 2217 Midway Road was cited for improper passing of a school bus on January 22. An officer observed Lance pass a school bus that was stopped with the stop sign extended. Children were getting off the bus at the time the vehicle passed. Lance’s court date is February 13.

50 year old Christopher Todd Storie of Byrdstown was arrested for a second offense of driving under the influence on January 24. He was also cited for speeding. While on routine patrol an officer observed a vehicle traveling at 60 mph in a 40 mph zone. He initiated a traffic stop and spoke with the driver, Storie. The officer also detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle. After learning that Storie had consumed a few beers, the officer asked if he would perform a series of standardized field sobriety tasks. Storie submitted to the tasks but performed poorly. Bond for Storie is $3,500 and his court date is February 14.

41 year old David Russell Palmer of 2500 Four Seasons Road was cited for passing a stopped school bus on January 25. Palmer failed to stop when the school bus stop sign was displayed but he did stop after he had passed the stop sign on the bus. His court date is February 13.

42 year old April Morton of Kingsport was arrested for shoplifting on January 29. Five days before on January 24 police were called to Wal-Mart on a shoplifting complaint. Upon arrival the officer learned that a woman had stolen some items from the store and then ran into the woods leaving the truck she arrived in at the parking lot. The officer recognized the truck and went to the home of the person who owned it. There he spoke with Morton by phone who stated she knew police were looking for her. The officer informed Morton that if she came back and talked to them, she would possibly just get a citation instead of being arrested. Morton responded by telling the officer to do what he had to do and hung up. A shoplifting warrant was then issued for her arrest on January 29 and she was located at 808 Gentry Avenue and placed under arrest. Police said Morton, a former resident of the local halfway house, has no current address but that she is originally from Kingsport. Because Morton was uncooperative in the first encounter with police, she was arrested instead of being issued a citation. Her bond is $1,500 and her court date is February 14.

35 year old Jason Douglas Stembridge of 597 C. Walker Road was cited for shoplifting on January 28. Police were called to O’Reilly’s Auto Parts on a shoplifting complaint in which a man was spotted putting unpaid for items in his hoodie before leaving the store in a black Chevrolet Tracker. The officer located the vehicle at Tractor Supply and questioned the driver, Stembridge about the shoplifting incident. Stembridge produced 2 sets of automobile gauges from the back of the vehicle. The officer also discovered that while the truck had a valid license plate there was no VIN plate or other markings to verify its identity. The officer could not determine if the license plate matched the vehicle. The truck was impounded in order for police to verify the information of the vehicle. Stembridge’s court date is February 14.

34 year old Wallace Marlon Rackley of Quebeck was arrested on January 31 for unlawful possession of a weapon. Rackley was pulled over at 210 Spring Street due to outstanding warrants and he informed the officer that he had a rifle in his truck. The officer located the rifle and Rackley was charged with unlawful possession as he is a convicted felon. Bond for Rackley is $10,000 and his court date is February 14.

54 year old Rickey Lee Shehane of 309 Wade Street was arrested on January 31 for violation of an order of protection. Police received a call that Shehane was at 309 Wade Street with his girlfriend. Upon arrival, the officer learned that Shehane had just left the home and gone to 319 Jackson Street. Shehane was found there and he admitted to having been at the Wade Street residence earlier. Shehane is under an active order of protection and bond conditions which prohibits him from staying at the Wade Street home because of a domestic assault charge against him. Bond for Shehane is $3,500 and his court date is February 21.

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