Drennan Gets 8 Year Sentence For Sexual Exploitation of Minor

April 10, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A Smithville man found with images of child pornography on his mobile phone over two years ago was sentenced last Monday, April 3 in DeKalb County Criminal Court.

57-year-old David Yoyden Drennan entered a plea to sexual exploitation of a minor and received an 8-year sentence to serve at 100% with the possibility of 15% good time. His name will be added to the state’s sex offender registry. He was given jail credit of 808 days. The offense occurred on January 13, 2021.

According to District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway, “Investigators with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office began to investigate a tip that Drennan was in possession of photographic and video images of children which are sexual in nature. The ICAC unit with the Cookeville Police Department also assisted in the investigation”.

“As the investigation progressed, evidence was discovered showing that Drennan had in excess of 50 images of child pornography on his mobile telephone”.

In other cases, 54-year-old Ricky Murphy entered a plea to driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended to supervised probation except for 48 hours to serve. He was fined $350 and will lose his driver license for one year. He is to report to jail or enter a DUI center by May 2.

32-year-old Jeremiah Martin entered a plea to sale of a schedule II drug under 0.5 grams. He received a 4-year sentence all suspended to supervised probation. The sentence is to run concurrently with a Coffee County case against him. Martin was fined $2,000. He was given jail credit of 513 days.

38-year-old Jessica Dyal entered a plea to possession with intent to sell under 0.5 grams of methamphetamine. She received a 4-year sentence all suspended to supervised probation and was fined $2,000. Dyal was given 21 days jail credit.

52-year-old David Driver received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended to supervised probation for violation of probation. The sentence is to run concurrently with a Cannon County case against him.

61-year-old Troy Klingbeil entered a plea to a 3rd offense of driving under the influence. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended except for 150 days to serve. Klingbeil was given credit for time served. He will lose his driver license per Department of Safety regulations and his fine is $1,100.

April 7, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

“Buster” was once in a good loving home but sadly his owner recently passed away and others in the family were unable to keep him.

Now, this 13-year-old Schnauzer has taken up residence at the DeKalb Animal Shelter but hopefully not for long.

“Buster” is the WJLE/DeKalb Animal Shelter featured “Pet of the Week”.

“Buster is a really good dog. He has been an inside dog his whole life so he is fully house trained. Buster is also neutered and up to date on vaccinations. He just needs another good home. Buster is good with other dogs. We just ask that he go to a home with children over the age of 10 for a more quiet family environment,” said shelter director Emmaly Bennett.

“If you are interested in adopting Buster please check out the adoptable pet’s link on our website at https://www.dekalbanimalsheltertn.com/to fill out an application and see his picture and we will call you to come in and meet him. Please give us a call so we can find Buster a good home,” said Bennett.

The shelter is open Monday-Friday from 8 to 4 and Saturday from 8 to 12 at 186 Transfer Station Road. Phone 615-597-3647.

April 6, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A day long jury trial of a man charged with sale and delivery of heroin and methamphetamine ended in a conviction Thursday in DeKalb County Criminal Court.

A jury of six men and six women found 42-year-old Michael Chad Owens guilty as charged in the four-count indictment including one count each of sale and delivery of heroin and one count each of sale and delivery of methamphetamine. The jury also fined Owens a total of $90,000 including $40,000 for sale of heroin, $15,000 for delivery of heroin, $20,000 for sale of methamphetamine, and $15,000 for delivery of heroin.

Owens was among several people indicted in June 2020 as a result of an undercover drug investigation conducted by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.

“From the testimony at trial of Chief Deputy Brian Williams and Detective Stephen Barrett, they were contacted by a confidential informant which they have used in the past and she indicated to them that she had access to Owens and that he was selling heroin and methamphetamine. At that point they used that confidential informant to conduct a controlled purchase of heroin on June 21, 2019 and the methamphetamine on June 25, 2019,” said Evan Smith, Assistant District Attorney of the 13th Judicial District who prosecuted this case.

After the jury’s announcement, the presiding trial judge Wesley Bray revoked Owens’ bond and remanded him to the custody of the sheriff pending the outcome of a sentencing hearing set for June 20. Owens will remain in jail at least until then and perhaps a lot longer. Although he has not had a long history of drug offenses, Owens is a convicted felon in at least five prior burglaries and one theft case.

Because of these crimes and his criminal past, Owens could get up to a total of 45 years in prison, according to Smith.

“The sale and delivery of a schedule I narcotic (heroin) is a B felony and with Owens’ range as a persistent offender he is looking at serving at least 45% of a 20-30 sentence for the B felonies but these two charges (sale and delivery) will most likely merge because it was a sell and delivery in one transaction, “Smith told WJLE.

“As to the other counts, sale and delivery of a schedule II narcotic (methamphetamine), that is a C felony. In the persistent range, that is 10-15 years. Because of his persistent status and violent criminal history, Owens is looking at a potential consecutive sentence. That is certainly what we will be asking for at the sentencing hearing,” said Smith.

Owens was represented at trial by attorney Mingy Ball.

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