February 22, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
A man who allegedly forced his way into a residence more than a year ago was sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court Friday, February 18.
31-year-old Michael Joseph Lee entered a plea to attempted aggravated burglary and received a sentence of four years to serve but he received jail credit for 259 days served.
Judge Wesley Bray presided.
Smithville Police Officer Travis Bryant made the arrest on November 17, 2020.
According to the warrant at the time, “On November 17, 2020, at approximately 9:30 a.m. I was dispatched to a possible burglary. Upon arrival I did observe Michael Lee on the side porch where he kicked in the door and forced his way into the home which was inhabited at the time by 4 people. I did follow him into the residence and took him into custody in the kitchen. During the arrest he was belligerent and making threats. Damage to the residence is estimated at 500.00”.
45-year-old Rickey Lee Tisdale entered a plea by criminal information to possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) under 0.5 grams and received a six-year sentence all suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000 and must undergo an alcohol and drug assessment and follow the recommended treatment. Tisdale was given jail credit of 88 days.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Monday, November 22, 2021, officers spotted a vehicle driven by a man, later identified as Tisdale, not wearing a seatbelt. The automobile pulled up to a residence where officers were going to serve a warrant. The deputies confronted Tisdale knowing he did not have a valid driver license. Tisdale admitted that he had been driving without a license and that he had just received a citation for the offense a week earlier. Tisdale also had a prior conviction for driving while suspended. Deputies conducted a search and found a Crown Royal bag with a digital scale containing residue, a metal container that held two Clonazepam pills, tin foil in a baggie, and a marijuana cigarette. The vehicle was towed and an inventory search turned up a magnetic box from under the driver seat that held several baggies of a powdery clumpy substance believed to be heroin along with a baggie containing a crystal-like substance thought to be methamphetamine. Also found were more baggies and other drug paraphernalia along with a Hi-Point pistol which was between the driver seat and center console. The total weight of the heroin was 4.12 grams while the methamphetamine weighed 2.86 grams.
47-year-old Michael Richmond entered a plea by criminal information to possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams and received an eight-year sentence all suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000. Richmond was given jail credit of 63 days.
Sheriff Ray said that on December 17 Richmond was found at an address on East Broad Street where he had been residing since December 11 but as a sex offender, he had not reported his move there to the sheriff’s department within the time requirements of the state’s sex offender rules. Richmond also had on him an estimated 1.5 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine wrapped in several pieces of paper and baggies.
27-year-old Devin Duke entered a plea to possession of a schedule II drug (cocaine) over 0.5 grams and received an eight-year sentence all suspended to supervised probation. He was fined $2,000. Duke was given jail credit of 83 days.
Smithville Police Officer Colt Stewart made the arrest on November 24, 2021.
According to the warrant at the time, “On November 24, 2021, I responded to Alexander Street. As Devin Duke was receiving care from EMS, I walked up to a room and could see in plain view a large bag of a white powdery substance laying on a table next to his bedroom door. A further search of the room turned up a scale and baggies commonly used in the sale and delivery of narcotics. The bag of white powder weighed approximately 10 grams”.
36-year-old Casey La Raine Emberton entered a plea to driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended except 48 hours to serve. She was fined $350 and will lose her driver license for one year. Emberton must complete the Alcohol Safety Education Program and attend the MADD Victim Impact Panel.
26-year-old David Joe Parrott entered a plea to driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended except 48 hours to serve. He was fined $350.