The man accused of setting fire to the courthouse almost two years ago was scheduled to stand trial for arson on Wednesday, May 9 but the case against 55 year old Gary Wayne Ponder has been delayed again.

Assistant District Public Defender Scott Grissom, who is representing Ponder, filed a motion on April 25 asking for the continuance (postponement) of the trial in order for Ponder to undergo an evaluation by a clinical and forensic psychologist set for May 15.

The court has granted the motion.

In the pleadings, Grissom states that “as grounds for this motion, the defendant (Ponder) would show that on April 2, 2018, a letter from Sherry Wright, ANP-BC of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, was received and it states that Mr. Ponder suffered from heptic encephalopathy as a result of cirrhosis. Since receiving this letter, the defense has tentatively scheduled an appointment with Dr. Julie A. Gallagher, Psy. D ABPD, a clinical and forensic psychologist for May 15, 2018 for evaluation if the trial date is continued past May 9, 2018. The defense would argue that the evaluation is essential to determine whether the defendant was suffering from a mental disease or defect at the time of the incident that could provide a defense pursuant to (state law)”.

This is the second continuance granted by the court within the last month.

During a brief hearing Wednesday morning, April 4 in DeKalb County Criminal Court, Judge Gary McKenzie granted a defense motion for a delay of the trial after learning that Ponder’s medical condition could be affecting his mental state. On that day, the judge reset the trial date for May 9 and ordered that Ponder undergo another evaluation in the meantime to determine if he is competent to stand trial. He was deemed to be competent after his first evaluation several weeks after the fire.

As grounds for seeking the continuance last month, Assistant Public Defender Grissom included with his motion a letter from Sherry Wright, a nurse practitioner at Vanderbilt University Medical Center who saw Ponder on March 21 and found him to be confused. According to Wright, Ponder is being treated for cirrhosis of the liver and that complications from this condition causes confusion.

In her letter to whom it may concern, Wright wrote on April 2 that “ I am caring for Mr. Gary Ponder who has a diagnosis of cirrhosis. One of the complications with cirrhosis is hepatic encephalopathy. This condition causes confusion because ammonia builds up in the brain when it does not metabolize in the liver due to cirrhosis (scarring in the liver). When I saw him (Ponder) in the office on March 21 he was confused. I have started a medication called Lactulose that helps to remove the ammonia from his brain to help with his condition”.

In granting the motion for a delay, Judge McKenzie said this is a serious case and he wanted to ensure that a just and fair trial be held and to lessen the risk of the case being sent back on appeal for another trial.

Assistant District Attorney General Stephanie Johnson said at the April 4 hearing while the state looks forward to trying this case, she understands the reasons for the judge’s decision in light of the new information provided to the court.

While Ponder remains on bond pending the trial, Judge McKenzie instructed him on April 4 to follow through on reporting for his scheduled evaluation. If he doesn’t, Judge McKenzie warned Ponder that he would be ordered into custody for the evaluation.

Smithville Police charged Ponder on Wednesday, June 15, 2016 after he was observed on the courthouse surveillance video system intentionally lighting fire in a newspaper recycling bin on the first floor vestibule. The video showed that on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 Ponder grabbed newspapers from the recycling bin and started the fire by lighting them with a cigarette lighter. The fire damaged the wall behind the recycling bin and cracked a window in the vestibule near the first floor entrance of the courthouse.

Local attorney Jim Judkins was the first to spot the blaze. He tried to activate the fire alarm and accessed a fire extinguisher which he used to try to put out the blaze.

“I was going into the basement of the courthouse to file a notice with the court and noticed there was a fire about waist level in the recycling bins located in the front of the basement area. I tried to find if there was a fire extinguisher or a fire alarm. An individual had already pulled a fire alarm and it wasn’t working. I then went over to the election commission office and told them to call the fire department. I was looking for anything to put it out. I grabbed a coffee pot and some drinks off their desks (election commission office) and threw that on it (fire). That put it down a little. I then tried to activate another fire alarm but it too did not go off. Someone then brought me a fire extinguisher and I got it put out. It had burned part of the wall (behind the bin) and there was a ton of smoke to the point that I had to get down on my knees to finish putting the fire out,” said Judkins.

Members of the Smithville Fire Department were notified and quickly responded.

Judkins later discovered that he had not completely extinguished the fire himself. ” I talked with Smithville Fire Chief Charlie (Parker). I thought I had the fire put out but when they (city firefighters) took over he (Chief Parker) said it was smoldering and they had to empty another extinguisher,” said Judkins.

County Mayor Tim Stribling said the total damages to the courthouse caused by the fire came to $120,706.52, which was the amount of the claim paid by the county’s insurance provider.

After the fire smoke had to be cleared from the courthouse, new ceiling tiles and dry wall work were required and a broken glass in the vestibule doorway had to be replaced.

The county also installed a new fire alarm system in the courthouse provided by FireTeam of Tracy City at a cost of $35,363.81. The system meets the latest International Fire Codes.

Mackenzie Elizabeth Partridge, a senior at DeKalb County High School, doesn’t yet have her high school diploma, but she is already a college graduate having earned an Associate degree in Science from Motlow State Community College.

Partridge, daughter of Brian and Rebecca Partridge of Alexandria, walked the line at Motlow on Saturday, May 5. She will be walking the high school graduation line on Friday night, May 18.

“She has worked very hard and put in long, stressful hours. We could not be more proud of her dedication and achievements,” said Rebecca Partridge, MacKenzie’s mother.

Through Motlow College’s dual enrollment program , high school students like Partridge can earn college credits while still enrolled in high school. Students can take classes on a Motlow College campus, online, or even at a partner high school.

Students who have completed their sophomore year and have met all requirements for taking the desired college courses may apply. Public, private and home-schooled students are all welcome to apply. The program gives students the chance to seamlessly transition from high school to college. The core curriculum credits transfer easily to Tennessee’s public colleges and universities while allowing students who are working on a four-year degree to save money on tuition.

Partridge is a member of several clubs at DCHS including Beta, FBLA, Tiger Media, and she participates in FCA. Partridge has already enlisted and will be joining the United States Navy after she graduates from high school.