Close & Paschal

News

Man Charged with Statutory Rape

October 17, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A Smithville man has been arrested for allegedly having sex with a 16-year-old girl.

23-year-old Guadalupe Franz Aguilar of Kendra Drive is charged with statutory rape.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that Aguilar allegedly committed the offense on August 5.

The case was investigated by a sheriff’s department detective.

58-year-old Randall Keith Mullins of Four-Star Point Road, Smithville is charged with aggravated assault (3 counts), possession of a handgun while under the influence, and possession of a firearm during a felony. His bond totals $77,500 and he will make a court appearance on October 26.

Sheriff Ray said that on October 7, officers were summoned to Poss Road on a complaint of a man, Mullins who was allegedly pointing a gun at three other persons placing them in imminent danger of bodily harm. Deputies retrieved the rifle that Mullins allegedly pointed at the victims along with other firearms found on the scene including a Taurus. 357 handgun revolver Mullins had in his back pocket. Mullins was believed to have been intoxicated at the time in that he had a strong odor of alcohol on him. His speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet.

22-year-old Christopher Edward Spoon, Jr. of Sparta Highway, Smithville, a convicted felon, is charged with simple possession of a schedule VI drug (marijuana); possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; possession of drug paraphernalia; driving on a suspended license; unlawful possession of a weapon; and possession of a firearm during a felony. His court date is October 26, and he is under a $27,000 bond.

Sheriff Ray said that on October 4 a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a red Nissan Altima for failure to maintain its lane of travel and spoke with the driver, Spoon. A background check through central dispatch confirmed that Spoon’s license was suspended. The officer then conducted a search of the vehicle and found 1.5 grams of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana along with 19 clear baggies and a scale with weights and 3.7 grams of a white powdery substance thought to be methamphetamine. Spoon also had in his possession a .25 caliber handgun with three bullets in the magazine. As a convicted felon, Spoon is to carry no weapons.

21-year-old Johnathon Ray Brock of Webb Lane, Smithville is charged with aggravated burglary and theft of property. His bond is $11,000 and he will make a court appearance on October 26.

Sheriff Ray said that on October 8 Brock allegedly broke into a residence on Dale Ridge Road and stole a Remington model 597 .22 caliber rifle.

38-year-old Melinda Beth Murphy of Wade Street is charged with theft of property. She will appear in court October 19. She was released on an Own Recognizance (OR) bond.

According to Sheriff Ray, between September 3 & 7, Murphy allegedly stole a Samsung 65-inch television, a Phillips 32-inch TV, Amazon Echo Dot, a Straight-Ahead hair straightener, an ONN Soundbar, TV mount, baby items, and other miscellaneous property valued at more than $1,000 from a residence on Page Drive.

The case was investigated by a sheriff’s department detective.

More than six months after he escaped during a law enforcement pursuit of him, 33-year-old Bobby Jewel Wilson of Evins Mill Road, Smithville has been arrested and charged with evading arrest and reckless endangerment. He is under a bond of $17,500 and his court date is October 26.

Sheriff Ray said that on April 6 a deputy spotted Wilson driving a black Mercedes on Summers Lane knowing that Wilson had an active warrant against him out of Rutherford County. The officer activated his emergency equipment to conduct a traffic stop but Wilson fled at a high rate of speed and began passing several vehicles in oncoming traffic endangering the public. He was recently found and arrested.

43-year-old Joshua McDaniel Scarlett of Woodbury is charged with driving under the influence. His bond is $3,500 and he will make a court appearance November 9.

Sheriff Ray said that on October 14 a deputy was patrolling Sparta Highway when he spotted a Toyota Tundra traveling at a high rate of speed and witnessed the vehicle leave its lane of travel several times. The officer pulled over the automobile and spoke with the driver, Scarlett who had an odor of alcohol on him. His eyes were glossy and he was unsteady on his feet. Scarlett said he had consumed two beers and a mixed drink earlier that night. Scarlett submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks.

36-year-old Selvin Alexander Orellana of Murfreesboro is charged driving under the influence, reckless endangerment, and driving on a revoked license. His bond is $27,000 and he will make a court appearance on October 26.

Sheriff Ray said that on October 8 a deputy was patrolling on McMinnville Highway when he spotted a Maroon Honda Civic pass another vehicle on a double yellow line crossing into the officer’s lane of travel almost hitting the cruiser head on. The officer pulled over the car on McMinnville Highway at Turner Road and spoke with the driver, Orellana. The deputy found Orellana to have a strong odor of alcohol on him and that he was unsteady on his feet when getting out of the car. His speech was slurred. Several open and unopened containers of alcohol were found in the car. Officers learned that Orellana had a Rutherford County DUI conviction against him on April 29, 2015 for which his driver license was revoked.

50-year-old Freddy Sylvester Stringer, Jr. of Church Street Liberty is charged with driving on a revoked license. He is under a $3,000 bond and his court date is October 26.

Sheriff Ray said that on October 6 a deputy pulled over a blue F150 for failing to maintain its lane of travel and spoke with the driver, Stringer. A background check through central dispatch confirmed that Stringer’s driver license was revoked.

29-year-old Robert Wayne Davidson, Jr of Smith Road, Smithville is charged with driving on a revoked/suspended license. His bond is $2,500 and he will be in court October 26.

Sheriff Ray said that on October 5 a deputy was patrolling on Dry Creek Road when he spotted Davidson operating a white 1995 Chevrolet Caprice knowing that Davidson’s license was suspended. The officer pulled over the automobile and spoke with Davidson. A background check through central dispatch confirmed that Davidson’s license were suspended with prior convictions in 2016 and 2018.




Drug Investigation Nets Two Arrests Including Alabama Fugitive Found with Stolen Car

October 16, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Two women, one of them an Alabama fugitive, were nabbed in a drug investigation two weeks ago by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department in which investigators found methamphetamine and a stolen car from Davidson County.

30-year-old Amber Leigh Merlo of Shelbyville is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver and being a fugitive from justice. Her bond totals $82,500.

31-year-old Lisa Michelle Huard of 145 Cleveland Way, Smithville is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, and she was released on an own recognizance (OR) bond.

Both will make their first court appearance on October 19.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on October 2 a drug detective along with other members of the sheriff’s office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant at 145 Cleveland Way, Smithville where Merlo was found to be in possession of 7.52 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine and various items of drug paraphernalia and digital scales. Merlo was also in possession of a 2011 Hyundai Sonata confirmed stolen out of Davidson County. Huard was found in possession of 0.68 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be meth and various items of drug paraphernalia and digital scales. Two days later, DeKalb County investigators learned that the Huntsville, Alabama Police Department would be extraditing Merlo back there where she is wanted on other charges.




Property Assessor to be Challenged for Re-Election

October 16, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

It appears the DeKalb County Republican Primary will be contested next March at least in the Assessor of Property race.

Incumbent Assessor Shannon Cantrell and Amy Clare Lockhart both obtained qualifying petitions from the DeKalb County Election Commission Office Monday, October 16, which was the first day petitions could be picked up for the March 5th, 2024 primaries.

Cantrell will be seeking the GOP nomination for re-election as Assessor. Lockhart plans to challenge Cantrell for the Republican nomination.

Meanwhile longtime 5th District Constable Mark Milam also picked up a qualifying petition Monday to seek the GOP nomination for re-election to the office of Constable.

Both the DeKalb County Republican and Democratic Parties will be holding primaries simultaneously on Tuesday, March 5th for the offices of Property Assessor, Constable (districts 1-7), and Board of Education (5th & 6th) districts along with the newly created position of criminal court judge-Part III in the 13th judicial district. The primaries will be held in conjunction with the Tennessee Presidential Preference Primary.

The qualifying deadline is Thursday, December 14 at 12 noon. The voter registration deadline for the March 5th primaries is February 5 and the early voting period will be Wednesday, February 14 through Tuesday, February 27. The Absentee ballot request deadline is Tuesday, February 27, 2024.

Independents wishing to run for Assessor of Property or Constable (districts 1-7), Board of Education (5th & 6th) districts, or for criminal court judge-Part III in the August 2024 County General Elections must also qualify by noon on Thursday, December 14 at 12 noon.

Party nominees and independents for these offices will run in the DeKalb County General Election on Thursday, August 1, 2024 and those elected will take office September 1, 2024.

The incumbents in these offices are Assessor of Property Shannon Cantrell and Constables- 1st District: Waylon Kyle, 2nd District: Darrell Johnson, 3rd District: Travis Bryant, 4th District: Lane Ball, 5th District: Mark Milam, 6th District: Jason Brown, and 7th District: Johnny King.

The school board seats up for election in 2024 are currently held by Jamie Cripps in the 5th district and Jason Miller in the 6th district.




« First ‹ Previous 1 260 350 358 359 360361 362 370 460 2492 Next › Last »

WJLE Radio