A Watertown man answered to an ecstasy drug charge last Tuesday in DeKalb County Criminal Court.

Judge Gary McKenzie presided.

27 year old Robert Jacob Hardison entered a plea by criminal information to possession of a schedule I drug (ecstasy) with intent to sell and deliver. He received a 10 year sentence in the Tennessee Department of Correction and was fined $2,000. He must forfeit his weapon. The sentence is to run consecutive with a violation of probation case against him in General Sessions Court but the term will be suspended upon his successful completion of a long term treatment program.

Hardison was originally charged with driving under the influence, driving on a suspended license, possession of a handgun while under the influence, tampering with evidence, and possession of methamphetamine and schedule I, II, & VI drugs with intent to manufacture, deliver, or sell.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Thursday, January 25 a deputy stopped a vehicle on Smith Road for a non working tail light. The officer spoke with the driver, Hardison and detected an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Hardison admitted to having used marijuana and hydrocodone earlier in the day. He submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He also submitted to implied consent (blood test). During the investigation the officer learned that Hardison is on probation for a previous offense and that his license were suspended on October 14, 2017 for failure to show proof of insurance and that he had continued to drive even after receiving a citation in Wilson County for driving on a suspended license.

A search of Hardison’s vehicle turned up a Jennings 22 caliber handgun which is illegal since Hardison had the weapon in his possession while under the influence.

Drugs were also found in the car including six green pills believed to be ecstasy and three separate baggies of a crystal like substance suspected to be methamphetamine, which were in a metal tin on the driver’s side floorboard along with scales and separate baggies.

During a search of Hardison’s person, the deputy found a white pill believed to be hydrocodone. After being placed in custody and seated in the back of the deputy’s patrol car, Hardison pulled a silver container from the area of his crotch and put several pills from that container into his mouth and into the seat of the car, trying to dispose of them.

After Hardison admitted to the officers that he had other drugs in his home, they conducted a probation search of the residence upon containing consent from Hardison and found 37.19 grams of a leafy substance believed to be marijuana along with another baggie of meth and more scales and baggies.

The total weight of all four baggies of meth found during this investigation totaled 3.6 grams.

In other cases Tuesday, 31 year old James Robert Lee Fuson entered a plea by criminal information to criminal simulation and received a two year TDOC sentence to run concurrently with violations of probations against him he is already serving. Fuson is also to make restitution of $988.90 to the victim. He was given jail credit of 59 days.

42 year old Angela Nichole Vallem entered a plea to delivery of a schedule II drug and received an eight year sentence suspended to supervised probation. She was fined $2,000. The sentence is to run concurrently with a case against her in Coffee County.

41 year old Brandon Lee Starnes entered a plea to possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) with intent to resale over 0.5 grams. He received a ten year sentence but he will be on TDOC probation after serving one year in the county jail. He has been given jail credit from August 27, 2017 through June 19, 2018.

33 year old Rhonda Joy Goff entered a plea to sale of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) under 0.5 grams and received a ten year sentence but she will be on TDOC probation after serving 365 days in the DeKalb County Jail. She must pay a $2,000 fine and make restitution of $1,200 to a victim. Goff was given jail credit of 246 days.

32 year old Clent Shehane entered a plea to sale of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) and received a four year sentence but he will be on TDOC probation after serving 150 days in jail. He was fined $2,000. The term is to run concurrently with a violation of probation against him in DeKalb County General Sessions Court he is already serving. Shehane must also make restitution of $180 to the Sheriff’s Department. He was given 79 days jail credit.

36 year old Angie Dawn Taylor entered a plea to sale of a schedule III drug and received a two year TDOC sentence all suspended to supervised probation. She was fined $2,000 and must make restitution of $150 to the Sheriff’s Department.

39 year old Amber Lynn Matchett entered a plea to simple possession of a schedule VI drug and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days suspended to supervised probation. She was fined $250.

A report of an unwanted guest at a local residence resulted in the suspect threatening a police officer and an EMS paramedic.

65 year old Bobby Joe Brymer of 208 Dearman Street is charged with aggravated assault, assault, and two counts of resisting arrest.

Smithville Police responded to an unwanted guest call on Wednesday, June 13 at 546 East Main Street. Upon arrival an officer spotted Brymer on foot heading for the woods and called for him to stop. Brymer turned toward the officer yelling and cussing and threatened him with a stick. The officer then deployed his taser and fired. After being tased Brymer resisted arrest by trying to pull away from the officer to avoid being handcuffed. A county deputy arrived on the scene to assist police in cuffing Brymer and placing him in custody.

After EMS staff arrived to examine him, Brymer began yelling and cussing while sitting in the back of the ambulance and threatened one of the paramedics. As police tried to remove Brymer from the ambulance, he pushed an officer from the back of the ambulance. After being taken to the ground, Brymer continued to struggle with the officers but they eventually were able to subdue him. Brymer’s bond is $10,000 and his court date is July 12.

21 year old Bryce Alexander Rowan of Crossville was arrested on Thursday, May 28 for DUI and he was cited for violation of implied consent and two counts of simple possession of methamphetamine and marijuana. His bond is $1,500.

Police responded to 303 East Broad Street at approximately 10:31 a.m. that day in reference to a man passed out in a car. Upon arrival the officer found the man, Rowan passed out in the driver’s seat of the car with the engine running and a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. As Rowan stepped out of the car, the officer noticed a green leafy substance in the seat believed to be approximately 2 grams of marijuana. When questioned Rowan became very belligerent with the officer. His speech was slurred and he kept repeating the same sentence over and over. Upon searching Rowan’s car the officer found a small bag that contained approximately 3 grams of a crystal like substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. Rowan refused a blood test and was placed under arrest for DUI. He was then taken to the police department where a search warrant was obtained to take a sample of his blood for chemical testing.

40 year old Darnell Gurley of 161 Adcock Cemetery Road was arrested on Friday, June 1 for aggravated burglary and burglary. According to the warrants Gurley allegedly broke into a residence and garage at 536 East Main Street. Gurley’s belongings were found there. He allegedly admitted to having been inside both structures. Bond for Gurley is $8,500 and his court date is June 28.

43 year old Jamie Dean Murphy of 729 Bright Hill Road was arrested on Monday, June 4 for aggravated burglary, assault, and vandalism. According to the warrants, Murphy made forcible entry into the victim’s home at 740 Walker Drive on Sunday, June 3 by kicking in a locked door causing approximately $400.00 in damage to the door and frame. Once inside Murphy allegedly assaulted the victim by punching him several times in the face and about the body after learning that his (Murphy’s) daughter had accused him (victim) of sexually assaulting her. Bond for Murphy is $8,000 and his court date is June 28.

25 year old Natalie G. Barrett of 530 Miller Road was arrested on Monday, June 4 for possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell and she was cited for simple possession of a schedule IV drug. Police went to Barrett’s residence to help conduct a state probation search. Found in Barrett’s purse were 2.42 grams of a crystal substance believed to be methamphetamine along with 23 white round pills with imprint 319 believed to be 50 milligrams of Tramadol, for which Barrett could not provide a prescription. Police also found 2-weight scales and $429.00 in cash. Officers seized the drugs and cash and Barrett was taken into custody without incident. Her bond is $5,000 and her court date is June 28.

37 year old Laura Brooke Carpenter of 209 East Main Street was cited for simple possession on Friday, June 15. Police responded to Wal-Mart in reference to a possible shoplifter. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the suspect, Carpenter who gave him consent to search her backpack and purse. One gram of a crystal substance which field tested positive for methamphetamine was found inside a black case in her backpack. Carpenter’s court date is June 28.

37 year old Rickey Martin of 520 Miller Road was cited for simple possession on Sunday, June 17. Police responded to Wal-Mart in reference to a suspicious person. After confronting the suspect, Martin, police received consent to search his person and found a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine which weighed less than one gram. Martin’s court date is July 12.

22 year old Caleb McGhee of 721 West Main Street was taken into custody on Sunday, June 17 for outstanding warrants and he was cited for simple possession. Police arrested McGhee at his residence on the outstanding warrants and a search of his person incident to arrest yielded a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana which weighed less than one gram. His court date is July 12.

58 year old David Harold Lattimore of 309 Jackson Street was arrested on Tuesday, June 19 for DUI and he was cited for failing to give immediate notice of an accident. Police responded to an accident on Jackson Street where the offender had left the scene and failed to report it. After locating the suspect, Lattimore, police observed him to have slurred speech. His eyes were glossy and he had an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person. He gave several accounts as to what happened concerning the accident. Police learned that Lattimore had consumed a 6 pack of beer and had taken his medication prior to the accident. Lattimore performed poorly on sobriety tasks and he submitted to a blood alcohol test. Lattimore’s bond is $1,500 and his court date is July 19.

School Resource Officer Lewis Carrick graduated on Friday, June 15 from an intense 2 week DARE School.

He will be teaching DARE for the Sheriff’s Department.

DARE is taught to 5th Graders at Northside Elementary and DeKalb West School.

D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) teaches children that popularity can be found in positive behavior, that belonging need not require them to abandon their values, that self-confidence and self-worth come from asserting themselves and resisting destructive temptations. D.A.R.E. teaches students not just that they should refuse drugs and alcohol, and not participate in violent activities, but how to do so. D.A.R.E. goes beyond traditional drug abuse and violence prevention programs. It gives children the skills needed to recognize and resist the subtle and overt pressures that cause them to experiment with drugs or become involved in gangs or violent activities.

Pictured: Sheriff Patrick Ray, Chief Deputy Robert Patrick, SRO/DARE Instructor Lewis Carrick, and Sergeant Scott Staggs DARE Trainer for the State of Tennessee.