Judge Hands Down Sentences Against Drug Defendants

February 25, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Five people charged in recent drug investigations appeared for sentencing in DeKalb County Criminal Court Friday.

Judge Gary McKenzie presided.

22 year old Braxton Kain Bennett entered a plea to simple possession of methamphetamine and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days to serve. The term is to run concurrently with all other convictions and sentences against him. Bennett was given jail credit of 142 days.

He was originally charged by Smithville Police on Thursday, October 4, 2018 for filing a false report and manufacture, delivery, sale, or possession of methamphetamine. He had also been cited for unlawful possession without a prescription.

According to Smithville Police, Bennett said that he had been driving a white Lexus that night when an officer was attempting to make a traffic stop on the vehicle at Gentry Avenue. Bennett further stated that he was the only occupant of the car. However witness accounts and video evidence proved that Bennett’s account was false. The video showed Bennett in the back seat behind the driver with three other persons inside the vehicle.  After learning that the car held illegal substances, police conducted a search and found approximately 0.5 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine, two scales, a glass pipe, needles, spoons and multiple baggies. Also found were two-half white pills.

Meanwhile 39 year old Laurie A. Southard entered a plea to sale of a schedule IV drug (Alprazolam) and received a three year sentence on probation pursuant to judicial diversion. She is to make restitution of $362 to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.

66 year old Judy Phillips entered a plea to sale of a schedule II drug (Morphine) and received a four year sentence on TDOC probation. She must make restitution of $352 to the sheriff’s department.

27 year old Damon L. West entered a plea to sale of a schedule II drug (Oxycodone) and received a six year sentence on TDOC probation subject to judicial diversion. He must make restitution of $260 to the sheriff’s department. He was given jail credit of 115 days.

46 year old Arthur Brad Webb entered a plea to sale of a schedule VI drug (Marijuana) and received a two year sentence suspended to probation subject to judicial diversion. He must make restitution of $490 to the sheriff’s department.

Southard, Phillips, West, and Webb were among those named in sealed indictments returned by the DeKalb County Grand Jury in a special session Monday, October 29, 2018 as a result of an undercover drug investigation by the Sheriff’s Department which began last February.

February 25, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Members of the DeKalb County Highway Department spent the day Monday repairing roads in the county damaged by recent rainy weather and the work will continue in the days ahead.

Roads with the most damage include Smith Fork Road, Davis Hollow Road, Falling Water Road, Harbor Pointe Drive, Park Drive, and Austin Bottom Road.

IMG_4413 from dwayne page on Vimeo.

According to Road Supervisor Danny Hale, embankments on portions of these roads gave way resulting in sections of the roads cracking and collapsing making them impassable.

WJLE joined Road Supervisor Hale on Davis Hollow Road near Dale Ridge Road Monday morning where a road crew gathered after making repairs to a portion of Smith Fork Road.

“Two weeks ago I drove down this road (Davis Hollow Road) and it wasn’t like this. We have had so much rain that the bank on the side I’m assuming couldn’t hold all the pressure from being so wet and the road has just sunk down but this is not the only place. We have this situation in numerous other places across the county where they (roads) have dropped down. We’re working on building them up. Right now we’re bringing them back up with shot rock and filling in with crusher run gravel. If it dries up the repairs will be fine but if there are further problems we’ll probably have to dig out and do something different. Right now we’re trying to get the roads to where people can travel them and we’re working as quickly as we can. Please be aware of our workers in these areas and thank you ahead of time for your patience while we work to correct these problems caused by the record rainfall,” added Hale.

Meanwhile Road Supervisor Hale said he has been in close contact with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and has been told that because of rising lake levels the end of Johnsons Chapel Road will be under water. This is to control extreme flooding in surrounding areas. “Please avoid these areas at all cost and do not attempt to drive through any water or closed roads,” said Road Supervisor Hale.

February 25, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The next term of the DeKalb County Grand Jury will meet on Monday, April 1st, 2019.

“It is the duty of your grand jurors to investigate any public offense which they know or have reason to believe has been committed and which is triable or indictable in the county. Any person having knowledge or proof that an offense has been committed may apply to testify before the grand jury subject to the provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated 40-12-105. The foreman in this county is presently Ms. Katherine Pack, 1 Public Square, Room 303, Smithville, Tennessee, 37166.” said DeKalb Circuit Court Clerk Susan Martin.

“The grand jury will next meet on Monday, the 1st day of April, 2019, at 9:00. You may be prosecuted for perjury for any oral or written statement which you make under oath to the grand jury, when you know the statement to be false, and when the statement touches on a matter material to the point in question,” she said.

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