Fowler Handed Three Year Sentence for Aggravated Statutory Rape

August 2, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A man accused of aggravated statutory rape who led Smithville Police on a pursuit last September before crashing his vehicle was sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court Monday, August 1.

Judge Gary McKenzie presided.

27-year-old Tyler Shawn Fowler entered a plea to aggravated statutory rape and received a three-year sentence to serve at least 30% before his release eligibility date. He was given jail credit from September 6, 2021 to August 1, 2022. His name will be on the state’s sexual offender registry.

The Fowler story unfolded on Friday, September 10, 2021 at around 3:15 p.m. on Meadowbrook Drive as Fowler tried to outrun Smithville Police. When the officer initiated his lights and sirens, Fowler began to increase his speed and refused to stop. After about a 15-minute chase, Fowler ran the vehicle he was driving into a ditch and began to flee on foot. The Tennessee Highway Patrol was later summoned to help search the woods using a K-9. At the time officers thought Fowler might be armed. He was not. Trooper Bobby Johnson, Trooper Andrew Coppinger, and THP K-9 officer Adam Cothron and his dog Draco arrived on the scene.

“We responded to Tabernacle Road due to a man who had fled on foot into the woods and was possibly armed. He was wanted for aggravated kidnapping. They requested our K-9 assistance. The K-9 came from Trousdale County and upon arrival he began to track. After a couple of minutes he located the suspect in some brush. Fowler wouldn’t comply with commands to get on the ground or get his hands up so the K-9 was deployed and drug him out from the brush. Fowler was then checked out by DeKalb EMS and taken into custody,” said Trooper Johnson.

Tyler was wanted for the aggravated statutory rape of a 15-year-old. The indictment alleges that Fowler unlawfully and intentionally or knowingly sexually penetrated the teen between the dates of April and September 2021.

37-year-old Ashley Dawn Williams entered a plea to facilitation to commit identity theft and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended to judicial diversion.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on March 1, 2020 Williams used the name and social security number of another person in order to open an account with Xfinity for herself. She admitted to having committed the crime. The case was investigated by a Sheriff’s Department Detective.

49-year-old William Oscar Meadows entered a plea to possession with intent to sell or deliver less than 0.5 grams of methamphetamine. He received a six-year sentence suspended to supervised probation with 180 days to serve and fined $2,000. He was given jail credit of 180 days.

46-year-old Steven Ellis Anderson entered a plea to sale of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) greater than 0.5 grams and received an eight-year sentence suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000.

36-year-old Corey Winchester entered a plea to driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended except for 48 hours to serve. He will be on supervised probation and must pay a $350 fine. He will lose his driver license for a year.

August 1, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The 25-year-old playground at Green Brook Park will undergo a facelift this fall.

During the regular monthly meeting Monday night, the Smithville Aldermen voted to award a bid to Stain and Seal Experts of Nashville to conduct a wood staining, sealing, and restoration of the existing wooden playground equipment, benches, and infrastructure of the park. The bid is for $45,867. The city had budgeted $48,000 for the project. The city will make any repairs or replacement of materials.

Mayor Josh Miller said the playground is long overdue for this refurbishment work. “Green Brook Park equipment has kind of been let go and I think this is a step in the right direction,” he said.

In other business, the aldermen hired C.J. Tramel as a mechanic to fill a vacancy at the pay rate of $25 per hour.

Mayor Miller presented a plaque to Alderman Brandon Cox whose term expires August 31. He chose not to seek re-election as alderman. Cox was elected in 2018 and is finishing his one and only term.

The plaque reads “With Deepest Gratitude We Honor Brandon Cox. Thank you for your dedication to the City of Smithville for the past 4 years. We appreciate your service. City of Smithville, September 1, 2018-September 1, 2022”.

In March the aldermen voted to proceed with the bidding process for an estimated $700,000 project to rehabilitate deteriorating sewer lines and manholes in certain parts of town including Earl Avenue, West Main Street, and Carter Street and to enter into a contract with the J.R. Wauford & Company Consulting Engineers to provide services related to it. The city’s share of American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) grant funds are to be used to help pay for the rehab effort however bids for the project have come in excess of the allotted amount of $700,000.

Mayor Miller said Monday night that three bids have been received including two bids which are for more than one million dollars each and the other is for just under one million dollars. The city may have to add another $200,000 toward the project to cover the costs. No action was taken Monday night, but a bid may be awarded at the next meeting.

The Mayor and Aldermen will have their September regular monthly meeting on Thursday, September 1 at 6 p.m. at city hall instead of Monday, September 12 as had been scheduled.

August 1, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb Saints will open the 2022 football season at home Thursday, August 4 hosting Overton County. Kick-off is at 6:30 p.m.

Coach Justin Poteete sizes up this year’s Saints. “We have the possibility of being pretty good this year. We have a lot of athletes and many of them are new kids who either haven’t played before or haven’t played in several years. We will be looking to get them the ball in the open field. That may be a little bit of a challenge, but it is something we will try to do. We have some decent size and a little more physicality this year, but they will have to show up and work hard each day and give it everything they have,” he said.

Eighth grader and Captain Jesse Foutch will be the starting quarterback. “He is a kid who comes in and does everything the right way. You never have to ask him for effort. He is a good leader although he has to work on his communication a little bit. He gets a little nervous at times, but he is a kid who is always going to do the right thing. He has a pretty good arm although his throwing motion is a little weird. He throws the ball pretty, but his throwing motion doesn’t look the best,” said Coach Poteete.

“Receivers Foutch will be looking to throw to include eighth grader Carmello Davis (WR/DB) who is a first-year guy and eighth grader Kiece Hannah (WR/FS) also a first-year guy, but both are very athletic. Seventh grader J.T. Summers (RB/OLB) is going to play H for us this year. He is a very physical kid. He reminds me a lot of Josh May when he was here. Seventh grader Cooper Odom (WR/DB) will play for us this year. He is a little bit undersized, but he works hard every day and that’s all we can ask for as coaches,” added Coach Poteete.

As for size overall, “We have a little size this year. Eighth grader Hunter Ballew(G/DE) is a good-sized kid. He is learning some things. He will play guard for us this year. Chase Young, another eighth grader and Captain (T-DE), has good size and motor. He really came into his own this spring. We are looking for big things from him. Eighth grader Victor Locklear (G/NT) is a first-year player. He is a good physical player. Seventh grader Eli Jones (T/NT) will give us some reps this year at tackle. He has decent size. We are looking for big things from all of them,” he said.

“Defensively we looked pretty good in the spring. We are pretty physical. We just have to sustain that and get to the ball quick. We have some athletes out there. We just have to make sure we are disciplined especially inside with our linebackers and that each one of these kids does their job,” Coach Poteete concluded.

The DeKalb Saints Football Schedule is as follows:

August 4: Overton County-Home 6:30 p.m.

August 11: Macon County*-Away 6:30 p.m.

August 18: Gladeville Middle- Away 6:30 p.m.

August 25: Smith County (Homecoming)- Home 6:30 p.m.

September 1: White County*-Away 6:30 p.m.

September 8: Upperman Middle* (8th grade night)-Home 6:30 p.m.

September 15: OPEN

September 20: Prescott Middle* Away 6:30 p.m.

Post Season: September 24: (Conference Play-offs) TBA

September 29: Conference Championship/ Consolation : TBA

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