Motorist found with bomb last year gets 8-year sentence

June 21, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A motorist found almost a year and a half ago with a bomb and other weapons along with drugs and a large amount of cash had his day of reckoning in DeKalb County Criminal Court Tuesday, June 20.

Judge Wesley Bray presided.

41-year-old Shane Daniel Gray received a total sentence of eight years and was fined $2,000 after entering a plea to possession with intent to sell or deliver over 0.5 grams of methamphetamine on January 4, 2022 in DeKalb County, possession of a homemade explosive device and firearm on January 4, 2022 in DeKalb County, evading arrest on June 27, 2021 in White County, possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) with intent to sell or deliver over 0.5 grams on May 18, 2022 in White County, and tampering with evidence on May 18, 2022 in White County. He was given jail credit for 532 days served from January 4, 2022 to June 20, 2023.

In a prepared statement, Sheriff Patrick Ray said at the time concerning the DeKalb County case that “On January 4, 2022 while patrolling on Sparta Highway (Highway 70 east) a deputy observed a car traveling with a head light out. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, who was found to be Shane Gray. After checking the man’s driver license for validation, central dispatch advised the deputy to use caution with the suspect due to him being wanted out of Warren County for reckless endangerment and evading arrest. While the deputy was placing Gray under arrest, Gray advised the deputy he had a handgun in his waist band. After Gray was taken into custody, the deputy conducted an inventory search of the vehicle and found a shotgun, revolver, and a homemade explosive device. There were additional materials that could be used for making more explosives. The deputy also discovered approximately 100 grams of methamphetamine with a street value of $10,000; 2.4 ounces of marijuana along with several baggies, digital scales, and pipes. The officer further seized $3,786 dollars in cash and Gray’s 2002 Audi A5. There were over 300 rounds of ammunition with the weapons,” said Sheriff Ray.

“The Tennessee Highway Patrol Bomb Squad was summoned to take custody of the explosive device and destroyed it at the scene. The Smithville Fire Department and DeKalb County Emergency Medical Services were also placed on standby due to the severity of the scene with the explosive device and the Smithville Police Department assisted in the case,” Sheriff Ray concluded.

June 20, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A suspected drug dealer recently convicted for the possession of more than 300 grams of methamphetamine stemming from an April 2021 investigation was sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court Tuesday, June 20.

30-year-old Brandon Tylor Mulac received a sentence of 60 years as a career offender to serve at least 60% of the term before he is eligible for parole. Mulac, who is incarcerated, is expected to seek a motion for a new trial.

Judge Wesley Bray presided.

On Wednesday, May 17, a jury of seven women and five men found Mulac guilty of methamphetamine possession (300 grams or more) with intent to sell or deliver. Mulac was also fined $75,000. The jury found Mulac not guilty on a second charge of fentanyl possession with intent to sell or deliver.

Mulac was represented at trial by Smithville attorney Brad Hannah.

According to Greg Strong, Assistant District Attorney General, who spoke with WJLE after the trial, the DeKalb County charges against Mulac stemmed from a Smith County investigation where Mulac was found with drugs during a traffic stop in April 2021. Authorities there learned that Mulac had more drugs at a residence in Smithville and they contacted the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.

“We received information from the Smith County Sheriff’s Department that they had found Mulac in possession of a large amount of methamphetamine during a traffic stop there. Through that investigation we learned that a large amount of methamphetamine could be found in a house here on South Mountain Street where we believe Mulac had been staying. We obtained a search warrant based on that information and did find a large amount of methamphetamine at that residence,” said Strong.

“A co-defendant with Mulac, Logan Sullivan was also charged with the same offenses that night because she was at the house when the search warrant was served. She is now deceased,” Strong said.

“After Mulac was charged in Smith County, we had him arrested on a grand jury pickup indictment in 2021.

The Smith County case is still pending against him where he faces a Class-A felony,” Strong continued.

“We (prosecution) called six witnesses during the trial, all law enforcement officers and experts of the TBI crime lab. The defense called one witness who testified that Mulac did not live at the South Mountain Street residence where the meth was found but all the other information we had, pointed to the fact that Mulac did live there. The defense also contended that we (prosecution) didn’t prove that Mulac was in possession of the meth,” said Strong.

Based on his criminal record, Strong said the DA’s office sought maximum punishment for Mulac.

“We (prosecutors) filed a notice that Mulac is a career offender mostly for a history (total of 13 prior convictions for either aggravated burglary or aggravated assault offenses in Rutherford County),” said Strong”.

“I want to thank the Smith County Sheriff’s Department and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department for building a good case to go forward with and the cooperation both agencies showed. They both participated in the search warrant and a big thanks goes to both of them,” said Assistant DA Strong.

June 20, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

After being convicted more than two months ago for the sale and delivery of heroin and methamphetamine, 42-year-old Michael Chad Owens learned his fate Tuesday, June 20 in DeKalb County Criminal Court.

Judge Wesley Bray sentenced Owens to a total of 45 years as a range III offender including 30 years in one case and 15 years in the other to run consecutively. He must serve at least 45% of the term before becoming eligible for parole.

On Thursday, April 6, a jury of six men and six women found Owens guilty as charged in the four-count indictment including one count each of sale and delivery of heroin and one count each of sale and delivery of methamphetamine. The jury also fined Owens a total of $90,000 including $40,000 for sale of heroin, $15,000 for delivery of heroin, $20,000 for sale of methamphetamine, and $15,000 for delivery of heroin.

Owens was among several people indicted in June 2020 as a result of an undercover drug investigation conducted by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.

“From the testimony at trial of Chief Deputy Brian Williams and Detective Stephen Barrett, they were contacted by a confidential informant which they have used in the past and she indicated to them that she had access to Owens and that he was selling heroin and methamphetamine. At that point they used that confidential informant to conduct a controlled purchase of heroin on June 21, 2019 and the methamphetamine on June 25, 2019,” said Evan Smith, Assistant District Attorney of the 13th Judicial District who prosecuted this case.

Although he has not had a long history of drug offenses, Owens is a convicted felon in at least five prior burglaries and one theft case, according to Smith.

Owens was represented at trial by attorney Mingy Ball. Owens is now incarcerated and expects to seek a motion for a new trial.