Phillips Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Child Rape

October 24, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A 70-year-old man is facing an 8-year prison sentence for the rape of a 14-year-old girl.

William Kenneth Phillips entered a plea in DeKalb County Criminal Court on Tuesday, October 18 to one count of rape. He received an 8-year sentence to serve in the Tennessee Department of Corrections. His name will also be included in the state’s sex offender registry. Phillips was given jail credit from May 20, 2019 to October 18, 2022. Phillips had been indicted for rape, sexual battery by an authority figure, and incest.

According to the indictment, Phillips did unlawfully, intentionally and knowingly expose himself and by force or coercion have sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl between the months of May and August 2018.

October 24, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A man believed to be responsible for setting fire to two vehicles and a house in January 2021 appeared for sentencing last week in DeKalb County Criminal Court.

Judge Gary McKenzie presided.

22-year-old Jacob Clinton Williams entered a plea on Tuesday, October 18 to one count of arson and received a sentence of four years all suspended to supervised probation. The term is to run concurrently with a Rutherford County sentence against him. He was given jail credit for 66 days.

The crimes occurred on January 16, 2021 and were investigated by the Smithville Police Department.

“We responded to a call of a car fire at a residence on South College Street,” said Detective Brandon Donnell. “The police and fire departments showed up but the fire was already put out. Only the tire was on fire. About 30 minutes later we got a call of a house fire on Jennings Lane. By the time they (police and fire) got there it (house) was fully engulfed. Police realized that the car which was on fire on South College Street was registered to the same man who rented the house on Jennings Lane. By the time I was called to the scene another car at the same house on South College Street was lit on fire. They (fire department) arrived and got that put out,” Detective Donnell explained.

The following day, Williams became a person of interest to police after his girlfriend came forward with a tip.

“I got a phone call the next day from a woman who said her boyfriend, Williams suspected that she may have been seeing the man who lived in the house and owned one of the cars that caught fire. I went to neighbors and viewed video from their security cameras the night of the crimes which showed Williams’ car leaving the fires,” said Detective Donnell.

Police later learned that while on his way back to Cookeville where he lived, Williams almost hit a car head on while traveling Cookeville Highway. “The driver of the car he almost struck turned around and followed Williams to the Dollar General Store near the Interstate and saw him throw something out the window. The next day we (police) went to that location and found a jug of gasoline that we believe he threw out,” Detective Donnell continued.

A few days later police discovered that Williams had already been picked up and was in jail at Putnam County for unrelated offenses. “We went there to talk with him but he would not cooperate,” said Detective Donnell. We then went to his mother’s house and found Williams’ car, which was the same one observed on video leaving the fires the night of the crimes. We took a warrant against him which was served upon his release from custody in Putnam County,” added Detective Donnell.

October 24, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

An argument between two women recently resulted in a knife assault.

25-year-old Megan Lynn Warden was arrested by Smithville Police for aggravated assault on October 13. According to police, Warden and the victim got into an argument behind the residence of 624 Highland Street and during the confrontation, Warden pulled out a knife and cut the victim on her face and jawline. Bond for Warden is $5,000 and her court date is October 27.

53-year-old Burnette Bernie Jones of 600 East Broad Street, Smithville is charged with violation of an order of protection. He is under a $20,000 bond and will make a court appearance on October 27. The complaint states that “on October 2 at about 1:45 p.m. Jones did go to the hotel room of the protected party and beat his fist on her door yelling and placing her in fear. There were several witnesses to this incident. Furthermore, Jones also had several incidents of indirect communication with this woman prior to this incident. Jones was arrested by Smithville Police and booked into the DeKalb County Jail for violation of an order of protection.

35-year-old Christopher Brock Tatrow was arrested on October 3 for public intoxication and assault. Police were summoned to Pedigo’s New and Used due to a possible assault. The officer found Tatrow, the suspect at the corner of South Mountain and West Broad Street with an open and half full 24-ounce Corona Extra. According to police, Tatrow was talking out of his head, not making any sense. Police learned that outside the store while the assault victim was looking at furniture, Tatrow aggressively came at the woman, grabbing her by the left arm on which she just had surgery, before calling her “baby “and then trying to grab her in the chest area. The victim pulled away and ran from the area. Tatrow’s bond is $5,000.

18-year-old Jeremiah Jason Mullins was cited on October 4 for vandalism. Mullins was spotted on video surveillance running away from a home on West Main Street after throwing a rock at a residence and breaking the glass storm door. His court date is November 10.

42-year-old Joseph Paul Deskins was arrested on October 6 for driving under the influence. After pulling over Deskins in a traffic stop for not maintaining his lane of travel, police noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person and when asked to step out of the vehicle, Deskins was unsteady on his feet. Deskins submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. His bond is $3,500 and he will appear in court October 27.

40-year-old Tolesha Alberta Slone was cited for assault on October 12. Police responded to an assault complaint at Smithville Market on West Broad Street and upon investigation learned that Slone had slapped and thrown gasoline on the victim. Her court date is November 3.

49-year-old Mariano Del Angle Reyes was arrested for driving under the influence on October 16 and he was cited for no driver license. Police were dispatched to a possible motor vehicle crash with injuries and upon arrival found a single vehicle on its side in the creek bed near the Smithville Church of God. Once the driver, identified as Reyes was finally out of the vehicle, the officer noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person. He submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. A computer check revealed that Reyes is not a licensed driver. Bond for Reyes is $1,500 and his court date is November 3.

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