Sentencing for Courthouse Arsonist Postponed Again

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.

December 10, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A man charged in a rash of burglaries was sentenced today (Tuesday) in DeKalb County Criminal Court.

26 year old Ryan Davis Taylor entered a plea to 5 counts of burglary. He received a 4 year sentence for each offense to run concurrently except for one case which is to run consecutively with the others. His total term is for 8 years suspended to probation with time served of 553 days. He is to make restitution of $7,855 and complete long term rehabilitation.

In April, 2018 Taylor was indicted by the Grand Jury for allegedly committing several burglaries and thefts from March through October, 2017. Specifically burglary (6 counts), theft over $10,000, theft over $2,500 (2 counts), auto burglary, theft over $1,000 (2 counts), theft under $1,000 (4 counts), vandalism under $1,000 (2 counts), and aggravated burglary.

While free on bond from those crimes, Taylor allegedly committing another burglary in July, 2019.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on July 8 Taylor broke into a shed on the Alexandria to Dismal Road and stole a 460 Stihl chainsaw, a Stihl weedeater, a Milwaukee battery powered grease gun and wrench, 2 half inch Titanium impact saws, and an impact wrench. The tools were valued at $2,900.

The other cases against Taylor in the 2017 cases for which he entered a guilty plea are as follows:

*On September 8, 2017, Taylor allegedly unlawfully entered a building other than a habitation of the victim and stole a Murray lawnmower and Craftsman pressure washer valued at under $1,000.

*On October 3, Taylor allegedly entered a shed, cut a padlock and chain secured to a generator, and stole the generator, two log chains, grease gun, spud bar, an adjustable wrench, and rubber handled pliers all valued at under $1,000.

*On October 3, Taylor allegedly entered a GEO Metro vehicle and stole a custom built AR-15, Craftsman tool set, drill, floor jack, Garmin GPS, and boots and glasses, valued at over $1,000.

*On October 6, Taylor allegedly entered a residence on Allen Ferry Road and stole various jewelry, TV, coffee pot, keys, remotes, laptop, and a tablet, valued at over $1,000.

Meanwhile, 35 year old Christopher Ryan Inge entered a plea to assault and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on supervised probation.

December 10, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

The DeKalb County High School Basketball games with Livingston Academy scheduled for tonight (Tuesday) in Smithville have been postponed until next Tuesday, December 17th in Smithville starting with the girls game at 6 p.m. followed by the boys game.

Meanwhile the DCHS vs Warren County games, scheduled for December 17th have been postponed until January 27 in McMinnville.