July 21, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
Another arrest has been made in the recent theft of a pickup truck.
43 year old Jessica Lee Steinbach of Keltonburg Road, Smithville is charged with burglary and theft of property. Her bond is $12,500 and she will be in court on August 20.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that Steinbach, and a co-defendant, 35 year old Edward Lee Judkins, Jr are charged with breaking into and stealing a 2006 GMC truck valued at $4,500 on June 16.
21 year old Austin Allen Gray of Sparta is charged with domestic assault and vandalism. His bond is $7,000 and he will make a court appearance August 20.
Sheriff Ray said that on July 17 Smithville Police were dispatched to near Congress Boulevard and Broad Street after a woman called to report that a man (Gray) had broken the rear window of her car and was chasing her. Gray’s girlfriend was a passenger in the car. The police officer and a county deputy spotted Gray on West Broad Street and stopped him. Gray said he was chasing his girlfriend so he could apologize to her. The deputy later spoke with Gray’s girlfriend who said that the incident began after Gray showed up at her residence and tried to keep her from leaving as a friend was helping her move. According to the girlfriend, Gray began screaming and raised his fist as if he were going to hit her. She then jumped in the car with her friend and they sped away. Gray threw something and shattered the rear window of the vehicle. He then got into his car and chased them into town while sending threatening messages to his girlfriend. The woman said she is still afraid of Gray.
26 year old Raymond Marcell Marks of Antioch. Tennessee is charged with driving under the influence and possession of a schedule I controlled substance with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver. He was further cited for no insurance and violation of implied consent for not submitting to a blood test. His bond is $9,000 and he will be in court August 20. Sheriff Ray said that on July 17 a deputy responded to Cookeville Highway due to a motor vehicle accident. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the driver, Marks who was unsteady on his feet. His eyes were bloodshot and watery and his speech was slurred. After being placed under arrest and brought to the jail for booking, Marks dropped a baggie containing a blue powder substance believed to be heroin. The substance weighed approximately 6.7 grams.
26 year old David Tyler Hutchins of Liberty is charged with theft of property over $1,000 and four counts of aggravated assault. His bond is $22,500 and he will be in court July 30.
Sheriff Ray said that on May 2 Hutchins stole a Honda FourTrax Four Wheeler by loading it on his truck and driving away. The victim then met Hutchins on the road and spotted his Four Wheeler in Hutchins’ truck. As Hutchins tried to flee in the truck, he struck a trailer attached to the victim’s vehicle and the impact caused the Four Wheeler to fall out of his truck. Four people, including the victim, were in the victim’s vehicle.
Hutchins was charged with stealing the truck valued at over $1,000. The four counts of aggravated assault were filed against Hutchins for endangering the lives of four people in the victim’s vehicle by hitting a trailer attached to it with his truck while committing a felony theft.
30 year old Jason Kyle Shepherd of Cookeville Highway, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court August 20. Sheriff Ray said that on July 14 Shepherd tackled his wife forcing her to the ground and then punched her three times in the back and side. The officer observed that the woman appeared to have been attacked.
Two people were cited with drug offenses during a recent traffic stop for a registration violation.
46 year old Christopher Todd McCloud of Bethel Road, Smithville is cited for simple possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) and drug paraphernalia. He will make a court appearance on July 30. Sheriff Ray said a detective conducted a traffic stop July 14 on a vehicle for having the wrong tag on it. McCloud, a passenger in the vehicle, was on probation at the time. During a consent search of McCloud, the officer found in his right pocket a baggie containing a crystal like substance and two needles were in his jacket. A pack of needles was on the seat of the vehicle. Meanwhile, another passenger, 28 year old Britta Morgan Rollins of Davis Hollow Road, Liberty is cited for simple possession of a schedule III drug (suboxone). She admitted to having suboxone in her backpack. It was found in a clear baggie. Rollins’ court date is July 30