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Six Injured Including Three Children in Thursday Night Crash

July 2, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Six people including three children were injured in a two-vehicle crash Thursday night on Highway 70 east near Brent Taylor Road. Two of them were airlifted by helicopter ambulance.

According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 23-year-old Tyler Lee Thomas Greenwood was traveling east on Highway 70 in a 2019 Ford Fusion when he rear ended a 2007 Nissan 4 door sedan driven by 43-year-old Sandy Ann Spurlin. Passengers with Spurlin were 44-year-old Robert Scott Spurlin and three children ages 12, 2, and 10.

The crash report states that (Greenwood) was traveling east on US 70 following Spurlin. When Spurlin attempted to turn left on Curtis Road, Greenwood failed to stop and struck the Spurlin vehicle in the rear. Both vehicles came to a final rest in the middle of US 70 facing east.

All six people were injured and they were all wearing their seatbelts




Grand Jury Indicts Alexandria Businessman on Four Counts of Forgery

July 2, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

An Alexandria businessman charged in January with four counts of forgery has been indicted by the DeKalb County Grand Jury.

50-year-old Stein Edward Prichard of Brush Creek Road, Brush Creek, manager of Prichard’s Foods, was among 15 people indicted on various charges Monday on the first day of the new term of the grand jury. Others were named in three sealed indictments.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said in January that Prichard is accused of having altered checks of two store customers, changing the actual amounts to much higher amounts.

“People would come into the store and buy goods and would write a check and then he allegedly would change the amount of the check and run it through the bank and used the proceeds for his benefit,” said Sheriff Ray.

The grand jury indictments against Prichard are as follows:

Count 1: “On or about April 12, 2023 Prichard unlawfully and with intent to defraud (victim) of the sum of $5,199, pass a forged writing (check) to Prichard’s Foods which purported to be the act of another (victim) who did not authorize that act”

Count 2: “On or about March 30, 2023 Prichard unlawfully and with intent to defraud (same victim as count 1) of the sum of $3,247, pass a forged writing (check) to Prichard’s Foods which purported to be the act of another (victim) who did not authorize that act”

Count 3: “On or about April 11, 2023 Prichard unlawfully and with intent to defraud (same victim as counts 1&2) of the sum of $935, pass a forged writing (check) to Prichard’s Foods which purported to be the act of another (victim) who did not authorize that act”

Count 4: “On or about December 2, 2023 Prichard unlawfully and with intent to defraud (separate victim) of the sum of $6,205, pass a forged writing (check) to Prichard’s Foods which purported to be the act of another (victim) who did not authorize that act”

Prichard and all others indicted by the grand jury Monday will soon appear for arraignment in criminal court.

Others indicted by the grand jury Monday are as follows:

Johnny Erik Bain: aggravated assault (3 counts)

Paul Green Cantrell: possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams with intent to sell or deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia

Tonya Michelle Cantrell: simple possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia

Shadayda Storm Farris: introduction of contraband into a penal facility, identity theft and driving under the influence

Matthew David Fayette: tampering with evidence and possession of drug paraphernalia

Matthew Dewayne Griffith: vandalism over $2,500

Destiny Renea Grimes: driving under the influence, DUI per se, and vandalism under $1,000

John Allen Judkins, Jr.: driving under the influence

Chad Everette Knowles: possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams with intent to sell or deliver, evading arrest-vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving on a revoked license (2nd offense)

Kayla Rena Sanders: possession of drug paraphernalia

Jason Richard Skaroupka: possession of drug paraphernalia

Rachel Lynn Spurlock: possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams with intent to sell or deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia

Alvin Davis Warren: theft of property-shoplifting, theft of property over $2,500, and vandalism over $2,500

Sheila Ann Zaruba: aggravated assault




Former Law Enforcement Officer Gets Five Year Sentence for Sex Crimes Involving a Minor

July 1, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

A former law enforcement officer in DeKalb and other counties indicted in December 2022 on sex crimes involving a minor appeared for sentencing Monday, July 1 in Criminal Court.

41-year-old Dustin James Farris, indicted for solicitation of a minor by electronic means, sexual exploitation of a minor (2 counts), and sexual contact with a minor by an authority figure, entered a plea to the following: criminal attempt for solicitation of a minor (1 count) and 2 counts of sexual exposure of a minor. Farris received a total sentence of 5 years to serve at 100% as a range 1 offender and he must register as a sexual offender. Farris must have no contact with the victim in this case. He was fined a total of $600.

A special called session of the DeKalb County Grand Jury met in December 2022, heard testimony against Farris, and found probable cause to indict him. A sealed indictment was returned against Farris at that time by the Grand Jury.

Farris’ latest employment at the time of the indictment was with the Overton County Sheriff’s Department where he served as a School Resource Officer. He had also formerly been employed as an officer in recent years by the DeKalb, White, Putnam, and Cannon County Sheriff’s Departments as well as a Child Support Investigator in the 13th Judicial District.

Count 1 of the indictment alleged that “between the dates of May 31, 2022 and July 24, 2022 in DeKalb County, Farris did unlawfully by means of oral, written, or electronic communication, electronic mail or Internet service, including webcam communications, directly or through another, to intentionally command, hire, persuade, induce, or cause a minor to engage in simulated sexual activity that is patently offensive or in sexual activity, where such simulated sexual activity or sexual activity is observed by that person or another and that Farris is 18 years of age or older (than the victim)”

Counts 2 & 3 of the indictment alleged that “between the dates of May 31, 2022 and July 24, 2022 in DeKalb County, Farris did unlawfully display to a minor, or expose a minor to, any material containing simulated sexual activity that is patently offensive or sexual activity if the purpose of the display can reasonably be construed as being for the sexual arousal or gratification of the minor or the person displaying the material”.

Count 4 of the indictment alleged that “between the dates of May 31, 2022 and July 24, 2022 in DeKalb County, Farris engaged in unlawful sexual contact with a minor when the defendant at the time of the offense was in a position of trust or had supervisory or disciplinary power over the minor by virtue of the defendant’s legal, professional, or occupational status and used the position of trust or power to accomplish the sexual contact. The defendant intentionally touched or kissed the minor’s lips with the defendant’s lips and such touching can be reasonably construed as being for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification”.




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