Billings to be Sentenced in February for Attempted First Degree Murder

December 11, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A man convicted in August of attempted first degree murder in a 2017 knife attack on his wife was in criminal court Tuesday for sentencing but the hearing has been delayed until February 21.

31 year old Andrew Billings stood trial and was found guilty by a jury panel of 7 men and 5 women on August 14. Along with the guilty verdict, the jury assessed a $50,000 fine.

Billings remains behind bars in the Robertson County Jail, where he has been held, without bond pending a sentencing hearing in DeKalb County Criminal Court which was first set for September 20 before being re-scheduled to December 10 and now February 21.

Billings was accused of slitting the throat of his wife, Adriana with a long kitchen knife before leaving her by the side of Allen Ferry Road in the Ragland Bottom area on April 4, 2017.

Although Billings did not deny the knife attack, his defense was that he was on meth at the time and that he took out his rage on Adriana thinking she had turned over to authorities a recording of a statement he made implicating himself in a meth case.

Billings’ attorney Brandon Cox argued that Billings’ use of meth in the days leading up to the assault made him paranoid and agitated and rendered him incapable of premeditation. State prosecutors countered that Billings’ actions proved that he had planned the attack on Adriana and that his use of meth could not be an excuse for committing such a horrific crime.

As an A felony the range of punishment for this offense is from 15-25 years.

Billings also has other charges pending against him including aggravated child abuse, neglect, endangerment of a child 8 or younger and initiation of a process to manufacture methamphetamine.

December 11, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb Funeral Chapel has scheduled its Annual Christmas Memorial Service Thursday night, December 12 at 6 p.m. in the Chapel.

“This is a special service that the community is invited to attend as there will be prayers and words of comfort from some local pastors, Christmas songs by local praise team and singers, the Veterans Honor Guard will honor the veterans we have cared for this year and the names of each loved one will be read. Each family will light a candle in memory of their loved one. Following the service, refreshments will be served,” said Michael Hale, owner and operator of DeKalb Funeral Chapel.

“Our family and staff invite you to join us Thursday at 6 p.m. for a time of remembrance, celebration and fellowship,” added Hale.

For more information, please call DeKalb Funeral Chapel at 615-597-9400. You may also pick up your 2020 Weathervane Almanac Calendar.

December 11, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Sentencing for a man convicted of setting fire in the courthouse has been postponed again.

55 year old Gary Wayne Ponder was scheduled for sentencing Tuesday but the case has been delayed until February 3 in Criminal Court.

Ponder was convicted in July for setting fire in a courthouse vestibule recycling bin on June 14, 2016 causing more than $100,000 in damage to the building.

After hearing several hours of testimony, it took a jury, made up of six men and six women, less than half an hour to deliver it’s verdict. Guilty as charged for aggravated arson.

The range of punishment for this Class-A felony offense is from 15-25 years.

Ponder had been scheduled for sentencing Friday, September 20 but the hearing was reset for December 10 and has now been delayed again until February 3. He remains incarcerated at the jail.