May 9, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
May is National Treatment Court Month and the perfect opportunity to celebrate graduates from the local treatment court, DeKalb County Recovery Court (DCRC). DCRC represents a compassionate approach with much accountability. This program is an intense one-year-plus treatment program that ensures each person in the program receives an individualized, evidence-based treatment plan. The DCRC team identifies and meets individual needs beyond clinical treatment such as education, employment, housing, family reunification, and health care.
The DeKalb County Recovery Court is commemorating the month by recognizing graduates of the program.
Today’s feature is on Kyle Denton, who graduated today (Tuesday, May 9) from the DeKalb County Recovery Court. He was honored during a ceremony in the General Sessions Courtroom by Judge Brandon Cox, Recovery Court Coordinator Kate Arnold, and members of the DeKalb County Recovery Court Team.
According to his case manager, Rhonda Tiefenauer, Denton began his journey with the Recovery Court 13 months ago. Not only has he completed the program earlier than most, but he is also celebrating 15 months of sobriety.
“I have been with Kyle for 13 months now. He joined our program on March 7, 2022, so he has only been 13 months in the program, and it can go anywhere from 12 to 18 months, so Kyle just went one month over the year mark, which is amazing, said Tiefenauer.
“I remember when I started this journey,” said Denton. “I got involved with drugs at a really young age. I was lost and broken but through a network of people I found my way between Recovery Court, Independence Again (transitional housing), and my employer (Appalachian Performance Engineering) and sponsor. Every single one of them gave me a chance to get my life back and be where I am at today and for that I am grateful,” added Denton after receiving his graduation certificate.
“I have been clean for 15 months today. This program has shown me that I am capable and worthy of having a life worth living,” said Denton. “I have three kids and one on the way. I am ready to build a life around them and give them the life they deserve. I currently live in transitional housing and work at Appalachian Performance Engineering. I plan to stay there and continue my career and within the next five years purchase my own house in Putnam County,” Denton said.
According to Tiefenauer, Denton has a passion for helping others, especially the homeless and that has been part of his focus during recovery.
“Something that Kyle loves is community service work. He has worked with feeding the homeless population in Putnam County, a program that Justin Veals and Independence Again started and for the last 12 months he has been doing that,” said Tiefenauer. “He has gone to Capitol Hill in Nashville to advocate for the homeless population and has started delivering Narcan to the homeless camps there in Putnam County to save lives,” she continued. “All while doing this he has done his 12-step program with a sponsor, and he is a past MVP with the Recovery Court. Kyle is also working full time at Appalachian Performance Engineering (APE) where they take boxes of pipe and weld them together according to the customer’s needs to build things like ATVs for handicapped people so they can continue to have a happy life. Much like what Kyle has been doing at his job, he has been doing with his life. He has taken the pieces of his life and he has methodically put those pieces back together with the help of his family, friends, co-workers, the Recovery Court, Independence Again, and many more to make a fun, cool, and valuable life and he has his sobriety too,” said Tiefenauer.
“Kyle is a man of few words, but words only carry you so far. Its your actions that speak for you and since he has been in this program Kyle’s actions have been exceptional,” said Judge Cox. “Kyle is the reason this program exists. I can tell that Kyle is a man who is ready and dedicated to future success. I am extremely proud of Kyle and hope he continues on this journey of recovery,” added Judge Cox.
“This story is just one powerful reminder of when one person rises out of addiction and finds recovery, we all rise. And it is just one of many stories that demonstrate why treatment courts like the DCRC are so critical in the effort to address addiction and related crime,” said Recovery Court Coordinator Arnold.
The DeKalb County Recovery Court Team includes Judge Brandon Cox, Kate Arnold (Coordinator), Rhonda Tiefenauer (case manager), Darnell Gurley (case manager), Lary Latzman (Certified Peer Support Specialist/Volunteer Behavior Health), Jackie Vickers (treatment provider, Buffalo Valley), Abigail Wood (DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department), James Cornelius (Smithville Police Department), Clara Knowles (probation), John & Kay Quintero (mental health provider, Haven of Hope), Greg Strong (District Attorney Office), and Allison West (Public Defender Office).