Smithville Man charged in Joint Human Trafficking Operation in Murfreesboro

October 18, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

Twelve men including one from Smithville accused of seeking illicit sex from minors have been charged in Murfreesboro after a two-day undercover operation by Special Agents with the TBI Human Trafficking Unit, Murfreesboro Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Office of the 16th District Attorney General, and Tennessee Human Trafficking Task Force.

20 year old Michael Lee Sovern of Smithville is charged with Human Trafficking for Sexual Servitude.

Over a two-day period beginning October 13th, as part of an undercover investigation aimed at addressing human trafficking in Middle Tennessee, authorities placed several decoy advertisements on websites known to be linked to prostitution and commercial sex cases. The focus of the operation was to identify individuals seeking to engage in commercial sex acts with minors. As a result of the operation, detectives and agents arrested 12 men and booked them into the Rutherford County Jail:

*Terrance Deshun Becton (DOB 10/31/1993), Mason: Human Trafficking for Sexual Servitude, Simple Possession/ Casual Exchange.

*Edilberto Nataren-Aguilar (DOB 02/27/1989), Murfreesboro: Human Trafficking for Sexual Servitude.

*Colin Patrick Hamilton (DOB 01/17/1995), Tullahoma: Human Trafficking for Sexual Servitude.

*Javier Urbina Leija (DOB 11/14/1989), Smyrna: Human Trafficking for Sexual Servitude.

*Alasfour Abdullah Hassan (DOB 07/23/1999), Murfreesboro: Human Trafficking for Sexual Servitude.

*John Darrell Schulze (DOB 07/20/1962), Murfreesboro: Human Trafficking for Sexual Servitude.

*Garrett Robert Zabloudil (DOB 08/03/1980), China Grove, NC: Human Trafficking for Sexual Servitude.

*Edward Pope (DOB 05/12/1989), Murfreesboro: Human Trafficking for Sexual Servitude.

*Lucas Javier Diaz-Hernandez (DOB 04/13/1998), Murfreesboro: Human Trafficking for Sexual Servitude.

*Francisco Ruiz-Diaz (DOB 12/07/1991), Murfreesboro: Human Trafficking for Sexual Servitude.

*Michael Lee Sovern (DOB 07/21/2001), Smithville: Human Trafficking for Sexual Servitude.

*William DeJesus Morales-Garcia (DOB 10/16/1975), Murfreesboro: Human Trafficking for Sexual Servitude.

October 18, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A man and two teenagers were arrested during a burglary in progress at a business on Brush Creek Highway at Alexandria on Tuesday, October 12.

20 year old Michael James Dodd of Alexandria is charged with possession of burglary tools, evading arrest, theft of property over $2,500, vandalism over $10,000, and burglary. His bond is $65,000 and he will make a court appearance on November 4. Petitions were taken against the two teens charging them with committing a delinquent act in the case and they have already made a court appearance in juvenile court.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on October 12 a deputy was called to the scene of the crime due to a burglary in progress. Upon arrival the officer saw that the front door of the business had been broken and he found Dodd inside the building behind the counter stuffing items from the store in a bag. The two teens were also inside the business. When the officer ordered him to stop and show his hands, Dodd turned and took off running through the store trying to escape but he and the juveniles were placed in custody.

Several bags containing an estimated $5,760 worth of hemp, vape and tobacco products were recovered during the investigation which Dodd and the teens were apparently trying to make off with. Also found in the store was a pry bar, hammer, and bat believed to have been used in the break-in.

Vandalism to the building was estimated at $18,500 including damage to the front glass door, side glass window, glass stop and pay machine, three ceiling tiles, DVR, computer, and burglar alarm control box.

40 year old Shane Nerod Miller of Sparta Highway, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $10,000 and he will make a court appearance November 4.

Sheriff Ray said that on October 1 a deputy was called to a residence on Circle Drive and spoke with a woman who said that she and Miller had gotten into a physical altercation. The woman had physical scratch marks on her neck. Miller was determined to have been the primary aggressor. He was arrested on October 14.

October 18, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

A resident of Blue Springs Road is charged with stealing more than $5,600 in electricity from Caney Fork Electric Cooperative.

48 year old Shawn Edward Soales is under a $5,000 bond and will be in court on November 18 charged with theft of services.

Soales was arrested after it was discovered that he had created an electrical bypass which allowed him have use of electric power without being charged for it.

“On October 11 Soales altered and tampered with electrical wires established by Caney Fork Electric Cooperative to obtain and divert those services for his own benefit. Soales altered the wires to bypass the meter used to measure the amount of electricity used at his residence therefore bypassing any billing. Caney Fork Electric Cooperative showed this residence as a vacant account since February 21, 2020 and the estimated amount owed is $5,601,” said Sheriff Patrick Ray.