Evans Faces Charges of Domestic Assault, Child Abuse and Neglect, and Public Intoxication

October 24, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A 34-year-old man who assaulted his ex-girlfriend while she was holding her newborn baby has been charged with domestic assault, child abuse and neglect, and public intoxication.

Randall Christopher Evans of Highland Drive, Smithville is under a $19,000 bond and he will make a court appearance November 3.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on October 19 a deputy was summoned to a residence on Old Snow Hill Road where Evans’ ex-girlfriend reported that he had hit her several times in the face and on the back of the head as she was holding her baby, which was born in September. The woman was found to have marks, bruises, blood, and knots about her head. According to Sheriff Ray, Evans’ assault on the woman adversely affected the health and welfare of the child placing the infant in danger. Evans had fled the scene before the officer’s arrival, but he was later spotted walking on Nashville Highway near Old Snow Hill Road. The arresting officer stopped and spoke with Evans and detected an odor of alcohol on him. Evans admitted to having been drinking. He was placed under arrest.

51-year-old Vickie Lenae Alvis of High Street, Alexandria is charged with a fifth offense of driving on a revoked license. Her bond is $5,000 and she will be in court November 10. Sheriff Ray said that on October 22 Alvis was spotted driving on Broad Street in Smithville. Knowing that she did not have a driver license, a deputy conducted a traffic stop and central dispatch confirmed that Alvis had four prior convictions for driving on a revoked license.

October 24, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A 70-year-old man is facing an 8-year prison sentence for the rape of a 14-year-old girl.

William Kenneth Phillips entered a plea in DeKalb County Criminal Court on Tuesday, October 18 to one count of rape. He received an 8-year sentence to serve in the Tennessee Department of Corrections. His name will also be included in the state’s sex offender registry. Phillips was given jail credit from May 20, 2019 to October 18, 2022. Phillips had been indicted for rape, sexual battery by an authority figure, and incest.

According to the indictment, Phillips did unlawfully, intentionally and knowingly expose himself and by force or coercion have sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl between the months of May and August 2018.

October 24, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A man believed to be responsible for setting fire to two vehicles and a house in January 2021 appeared for sentencing last week in DeKalb County Criminal Court.

Judge Gary McKenzie presided.

22-year-old Jacob Clinton Williams entered a plea on Tuesday, October 18 to one count of arson and received a sentence of four years all suspended to supervised probation. The term is to run concurrently with a Rutherford County sentence against him. He was given jail credit for 66 days.

The crimes occurred on January 16, 2021 and were investigated by the Smithville Police Department.

“We responded to a call of a car fire at a residence on South College Street,” said Detective Brandon Donnell. “The police and fire departments showed up but the fire was already put out. Only the tire was on fire. About 30 minutes later we got a call of a house fire on Jennings Lane. By the time they (police and fire) got there it (house) was fully engulfed. Police realized that the car which was on fire on South College Street was registered to the same man who rented the house on Jennings Lane. By the time I was called to the scene another car at the same house on South College Street was lit on fire. They (fire department) arrived and got that put out,” Detective Donnell explained.

The following day, Williams became a person of interest to police after his girlfriend came forward with a tip.

“I got a phone call the next day from a woman who said her boyfriend, Williams suspected that she may have been seeing the man who lived in the house and owned one of the cars that caught fire. I went to neighbors and viewed video from their security cameras the night of the crimes which showed Williams’ car leaving the fires,” said Detective Donnell.

Police later learned that while on his way back to Cookeville where he lived, Williams almost hit a car head on while traveling Cookeville Highway. “The driver of the car he almost struck turned around and followed Williams to the Dollar General Store near the Interstate and saw him throw something out the window. The next day we (police) went to that location and found a jug of gasoline that we believe he threw out,” Detective Donnell continued.

A few days later police discovered that Williams had already been picked up and was in jail at Putnam County for unrelated offenses. “We went there to talk with him but he would not cooperate,” said Detective Donnell. We then went to his mother’s house and found Williams’ car, which was the same one observed on video leaving the fires the night of the crimes. We took a warrant against him which was served upon his release from custody in Putnam County,” added Detective Donnell.