Cookeville Man Who Broke Into Local Business Sentenced in Criminal Court

February 24, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A Cookeville man charged with breaking into JBeez Watercraft on Smithville Highway in September was sentenced Friday in DeKalb County Criminal Court.

34 year old Jesse Colt Warden, charged with two counts of vandalism, theft of property over $1,000, burglary, and possession of burglary tools, entered a plea to one count of burglary and received a four year TDOC sentence. He will serve six months and then be released on probation. Warden has been given jail credit from October 4, 2018 to February 22, 2019. He must also make restitution of $6,900 to JBeez Watercraft jointly and severally with co-defendants

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on September 11, 2018 Warden made entry to the business by breaking a glass window valued at $2,000. He used a pry bar and sledge hammer to destroy a safe valued at $5,000. Warden then allegedly stole from the business an Apple Ipad, 8 Peak handheld radios and $1,000 in cash with a total value at $3,900.

30 year old Raymond Howard Rollins entered a plea to theft of property over $10,000 and received a five year sentence on TDOC probation. He was given jail credit from January 6 to February 22, 2019.

According to Smithville Police, a report was filed on December 21, 2018 concerning the theft of an Inno Fusion Splicer. During the investigation police discovered that Rollins had taken the splicer, valued at $11,000 on or about December 16 without the owner’s consent. The splicer was later recovered where a witness reported that Rollins had tried to sell it. A warrant for Rollins’ arrest was issued on December 22 and he was picked up on January 6.

21 year old Colten Gene Young entered a plea to one count of theft over $2,500. He received a five year TDOC sentence to serve as a range II offender at 35% before parole eligibility. The term is to run concurrently with sentences he is currently serving. He was given jail credit from August 7, 2017 to February 22, 2019

The indictments against Young alleged that he stole  a utility trailer on March 1, 2017, May 15, 2017 (2 trailers), June 1, 2017, July 14, 2017 (2 trailers, canoe, and kayak), July 30, 2017. He also allegedly stole cash from an individual on May 15, 2017. His plea was for one count of the crimes committed on May 15, 2017.

48 year old Bessie Lucille Collins entered a plea to reckless endangerment and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on probation.

33 year old Joshua Joel Bain entered a plea to domestic assault and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on probation.

Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, May 24, 2018 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Jacobs Pillar Road due to a possible domestic between a father and son. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with Bain and another person who had been in an altercation. Bain struck his victim in the face causing multiple knots and a cut above the victim’s eye. Bain was placed under arrest.

42 year old James Walter Stringer entered a plea to violation of the sex offender law.  He received a two year sentence on TDOC probation after he serves 120 days in the DeKalb County Jail. Stringer was given jail credit from January 2 to February 22, 2019.

Sheriff  Ray said Stringer failed to meet the December 31, 2018 quarterly deadline for reporting his listing on the state’s sex offender registry to the sheriff’s department.

40 year old Amy Ford entered a plea to bringing contraband into a penal institution after drugs were found on her during a strip search.

Ford received a sentence of three years to serve in the Tennessee Department of Correction. The term is to run concurrently with two other cases against her. Ford was given jail credit from October 16, 2018 to February 22, 2019.

“Ford was being dressed out for housing at the jail and during a strip search by a female correctional officer, a small cellophane baggie with a clear crystal substance was found in her body cavity. It field tested positive for meth,” said Sheriff Ray.

44 year old Lynn Jay Jones entered a plea to driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on probation after serving 48 hours in the county jail. He must pay a $360 fine and he will lose his driving privileges for one year. Jones must also attend a safety school.

February 24, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Blake Cantrell of DeKalb County was honored earlier this month during the 11th Annual Governor’s Volunteer Stars Awards ceremony at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs in Franklin.

Cantrell was awarded for his active role in improving his community and helping others. The awards celebrated the efforts of 108 volunteers statewide who have strived to improve their communities through service.  Miss Tennessee 2018, Christine Williamson, presented the awards, and NewsChannel5 weekend anchor, Jennifer Kraus, served as emcee for the event.

One youth and one adult volunteer were selected from participating counties to receive this prestigious award.  Nominees were judged based on the community’s need of the volunteer service performed, initiative taken to perform the service, creativity used to solve a community problem and impact of the volunteer service on the community.  The individual awards are sponsored by Tennessee 4-H.

Cantrell was recognized for his volunteer work in DeKalb County in which he previously was named Community Leader of the Year and he received the 2017 Git-R-Done award for the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department. He was DeKalb County High School Quarterback Club Vice President for 9 years. He attended the Citizen Fire Academy in the fall of 2014, became a volunteer firefighter in 2015, and served as the DeKalb County volunteer fire department communications officer. Blake is President of DeKalb Emergency Services Association and President of 2017-18 DeKalb County High School Project Graduation. He also volunteers his  services to Haven of Hope, Lighthouse Christian Camp, and various churches and civic groups.

February 23, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Plan to hunt or fish this year? Now is the time to purchase your license to get the most out of Tennessee’s license year. New 2019-20 Tennessee hunting and fishing licenses are now on sale, with over one million licenses expected to be purchased in the coming year. All current year Tennessee hunting and fishing licenses expire Feb. 28.

Licenses are available online anytime at www.GoOutdoorsTennessee.com, on the TWRA “On the Go App,” or at one of more than 700 license agents across the state. You can now select to auto-renew your license and never worry about your license expiring again. Customers can also purchase a collector’s card for any annual license. This waterproof, durable card features paintings by Tennessee artists. Customers may choose between a largemouth bass or a waterfowl hunting scene featuring mallards and a retriever.

If you like wildlife of any kind, you should thank a hunter or fisherman. Without them, we would not have the abundance of fish and wildlife that we all enjoy.

Hunters and anglers have been funding Tennessee’s and the nation’s wildlife conservation for more than100 years through license purchases. One-hundred percent of hunting and fishing license fees go to support wildlife conservation in Tennessee. What’s more, a license purchase returns taxes paid on firearms, archery equipment, fishing gear and boat fuel to Tennessee at a rate of up to $40 per year so a license purchase is a great investment. This successful funding system is the Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration program which is the largest driver of wildlife conservation nationwide. Support Tennessee wildlife and buy your 2019-20 licenses now!

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