November 30, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
Video from a home security camera system helped nab a burglar on Toad Road in June and the man accused recently appeared for sentencing in DeKalb County Criminal Court
20 year old Robert Stephen Ryan Derrick of Toad Road, Dowelltown entered a plea to aggravated burglary and received a six year sentence on TDOC probation.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Monday, June 17 a deputy was summoned to a residence on Toad Road due to a break-in and upon arrival noticed that the back door of the home appeared to have been forced open. The image of a suspect was captured on video from home security cameras and the man shown was later identified as Derrick from previous booking photos of him at the jail.
Upon his arrest, Derrick had on him a claw hammer, believed to have been used in the break-in and an estimated $875 worth of items which were taken from the home. He also caused about $375 worth of damage to the residence.
A Sparta man responsible for a burglary and theft in July at two cabins belonging to the same victim on Timber Lane has had his day in court.
39 year old Chadwick Noble Dunham entered a plea to two counts of burglary and received a six year sentence in each case to run concurrently with each other suspended to six months to serve. He was fined $10 in each case and ordered to make restitution. Dunham was also given jail credit of 128 days.
Sheriff Ray said that on July 14, Dunham broke into a residence on Timber Lane and destroyed a glass door window in the process before taking a 48 inch Proscan television, 55 inch Samsung Smart television, Echo weedeater, two vacuum cleaners, and several other items with a total value of $2,600. The damage caused during the vandalism came to $400.
On the same day, Dunham broke into another residence on Timber Lane and destroyed a window in the process before stealing a 55 inch Vizio television, Xbox One, Sunny Bluetooth with speakers, Ipod, DVD player, two garden wagons and two lamp shades with a total value of $1,700. Damage from the vandalism came to $250.
Dunham had previously been arrested by the Sheriff’s Department after stealing items from three boats and damaging two of them in the process on Timber Lane.
Sheriff Ray said that on July 14 Dunham broke into a 2004 Triton boat, a 2013 Moomba boat, and a 2014 Cobalt boat and took a knee board, marine speakers, assorted cleaning supplies, a boat anchor, a black generator cover, several fishing rods, reels and fishing tackle. The total value of the items is $1,670. On two of the boats, Dunham destroyed a trolling motor, fishing rods, battery, and wiring to the boats causing damage totaling $2,350.
A drunk driver involved in a February wreck was sentenced.
22 year old Chase Lee Turner of AB Frazier Road, Smithville entered a plea to reckless endangerment and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days suspended to supervised probation. The term is to run consecutive to a General Sessions Court case against him. He was also fined $50.
Sheriff Ray said that on February 4 a deputy was dispatched to Ferrell Road due to a possible wreck. Upon arrival he saw three people, 24 year old Johnny Wayne Horton, 23 year old Amanda Dawn Shaffer and Turner walking in the roadway. All three were very unsteady on their feet and had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from their persons.
Turner admitted to having driven the pickup truck involved in the wreck. He refused to submit to field sobriety tasks. Turner was charged with DUI while Horton and Shaffer were arrested for public intoxication.
In other cases William Irvine entered a plea to driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on probation except for 48 hours to serve at the DUI center. Irvine was fined $350 and he will lose his license for a year.
46 year old William Oscar Meadows entered a plea to driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days on probation except for 48 hours to serve at the Upper Cumberland Turning Point Center where he is to undergo an alcohol and drug assessment. Meadows was fined $350 and he must forfeit his 9 millimeter handgun.
Police responded to a motor vehicle accident on Allens Ferry Road April 13, 2018 and upon arrival noticed Meadows, the driver of the vehicle, to be unsteady on his feet. His speech was slurred and he was confused. Meadows refused treatment by EMS but he did consent to field sobriety tasks and performed unsatisfactorily. He was then placed under arrest. During the accident investigation Meadows was found in possession of a 9 millimeter pistol that he tried to hide within the wreckage.