News
April 5, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
A woman believed to have been responsible for a fire in the Jefferson Community last fall has been indicted by the DeKalb County Grand Jury for two counts of arson.
38-year-old Scarlett Suzette Lawrence Strayn was named in a sealed indictment by the grand jury on Monday, April 3. Her bond is $120,000 and she will be arraigned in DeKalb County Criminal Court on April 10.
The indictments allege that on November 7, 2022 Strayn unlawfully and knowingly damaged a structure as well as personal property, land, or other property belonging to Jermaica League by means of a fire or explosion without the consent of all persons who had a possessory, proprietary, or security interest therein in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated (State Law).
Members of the DeKalb County Fire Department were dispatched at 2:32 a.m. on November 7, 2022 to a single wide mobile home on South Judkins Lane in the Jefferson Community where the residence and a bass boat were reportedly on fire.
“Upon arrival firefighters found the mobile home with heavy fire showing through the roof on one end of the residence in the bedroom area. The bass boat also had heavy fire in the engine and fuel tank areas. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire containing the blaze to the bedroom of the mobile home. The remainder of the residence received extensive heat and smoke damage. Two caged dogs perished inside the home. The boat was extensively damaged by the fire,” said DeKalb County Fire Chief Donny Green.
No one was injured and no other nearby properties were damaged. The incident was investigated by DeKalb Sheriff’s Department detectives and the TBI.
The Keltonburg, Belk, Blue Springs, Four Seasons, Short Mountain Highway, and Main Stations responded along with the tanker, DeKalb EMS, and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.
Three Suspected Drug Dealers Indicted for 2nd Degree Murder in Overdose Fentanyl Death
April 5, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
Three suspected drug dealers have been indicted by the DeKalb County Grand Jury for 2nd degree murder in the 2021 death of a man believed to have overdosed on Fentanyl.
62-year-old Tommye Lou Bell of Hawkins Drive, 48-year-old Sharon Joyce Malone of Fisher Avenue, and 45-year-old Vanessa Louise Lance of Hayes Street were named as co-defendants in sealed indictments returned by the grand jury on Monday, April 3 charged with 2nd degree murder and possession of schedule II drugs (Fentanyl & Cocaine) with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver (2 counts). The three are being held without bond in the murder case. Bond for each is set at $75,000 in the drug cases.
The indictment against the three alleges that between the dates of December 13-16, 2021, Bell, Lance, and Malone did unlawfully and recklessly kill 64-year-old Stephen Wayne Mullican of Old Snows Hill Road, Dowelltown by the unlawful distribution, delivery, or dispensation of Fentanyl, Acetyl Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Ethanol and that these drugs were the proximate cause of Mullican’s death. Mullican was reportedly Lance’s father.
Bell is also indicted for unlawfully selling the schedule II drugs Fentanyl and Cocaine between the dates of December 13-16, 2021.
Malone and Lance are co-indicted for unlawfully delivering the schedule II drugs Fentanyl and Cocaine between December 13-16, 2021.
The three women will be arraigned in DeKalb County Criminal Court on Monday, April 10.
The cases were investigated by DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department Detectives and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Unlicensed Daycare Operator Indicted on Child Abuse Charges
April 5, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
A 24-year-old woman and unlicensed daycare operator has been indicted by the DeKalb County Grand Jury on charges of child abuse and aggravated child abuse of children ages 9 months and 13 months.
Karlee Madison Dickens, also known as Karlee Madison Wagner of Pack Circle, Smithville is being held without bond and will be arraigned in DeKalb County Criminal Court on April 10. She is indicted on one count of aggravated child abuse and two counts of child abuse.
In a statement to WJLE, District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway stated that “The DeKalb County Grand Jury met on April 3, 2023 and heard testimony regarding allegations of child abuse. The Grand Jury found probable cause that the criminal offenses were committed and issued a True Bill of Indictment charging Karlee Madison Dickens (also known as Karlee Madison Wagner), age 24 with the following offenses: Aggravated Child Abuse, a Class A felony by causing serious bodily injury to a child under the age of 8. And two (2) Counts of Child Abuse, each count being a Class D felony by causing injury to a child under 8 years of age. Karlee Madison Dickens (also known as Karlee Madison Wagner) was arrested on April 4, 2023 and booked into the DeKalb County Jail,” said DA Dunaway.
In the aggravated child abuse case, the indictment alleges that Dickens, AKA Wagner abused a nine-month-old child resulting in serious bodily injury on or about May 19, 2022 thereby committing the offense of aggravated child abuse. The child’s date of birth is July, 27, 2021.
In the two-count indictment for child abuse, Dickens AKA Wagner is alleged to have inflicted injury on a 13-month-old child between the dates of August 8-12, 2022 and on or about August 17, 2022 thereby committing the offense of child abuse. The child’s date of birth is July 2, 2021
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