May 21, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
A woman arrested last summer for allegedly breaking into a dwelling and committing an assault appeared for sentencing Monday, May 19 in DeKalb County Criminal Court.
40-year-old Andrea Claspell entered a plea to aggravated burglary and aggravated assault and received a three-year sentence in each case all suspended to supervised probation. The cases are to run concurrently. She was given 34 days jail credit.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on July 11, 2024 a deputy was dispatched to Green Hill Road due to an assault. Upon arrival, he spoke with homeowners who reported that Claspell, who appeared to be under the influence, had taken possession of a Toyota Tacoma and driven through their yard and into the roadway where it got stuck in a ditch. The vehicle had extensive damage. The officer found Claspell holding a bottle of wine walking down the road. While speaking with Claspell, the officer found her speech to be slurred and she was unsteady on her feet. Claspell admitted to having consumed alcohol and driving the vehicle. She refused to submit to a blood draw. Her previous DUI offense was December 10, 2020.
Sheriff Ray said the investigation revealed that prior to her arrest, Claspell had allegedly entered an occupied dwelling with intent to commit an assault, then struck a man there in the face causing him to be checked out by DeKalb EMS. Claspell further allegedly caused damage to personal property outside the home with her vehicle by running over the owner’s bicycles, kids’ toys, and a trampoline and driving toward a woman placing her in fear of serious bodily injury.
Meanwhile a man arrested in a drug bust in March by the Smithville Police Department at the Rama Inn on East Broad Street was also sentenced Monday.
25-year-old Robert Stephen Ryan Derrick of East Broad Street (The Rama Inn) entered a plea by criminal information to possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams with intent to sell. He received a 10-year TDOC sentence to serve and was fined $2,000. The sentence is to run consecutive to a probation violation against him. Derrick was given jail credit from March 3 to May 19, 2025.
Two other people were also charged in the case, 36-year-old Savannah Elizabeth Mae Derrick of Crestlawn Avenue, and 37-year-old Landon Craig Wyatt of Toad Road but their cases are apparently still pending in court.
Chief Mark Collins said that on Monday, March 3, 2025 the Smithville Police Department executed a search warrant at 600 East Broad Street (The Rama Inn) and during the search found one a half pounds of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine along with scales, plastic baggies, and other drug paraphernalia items. He said both Robert and Savannah Derrick were out on parole.
Robert Derrick was charged at the time with sale and delivery of a schedule II drug; Savannah Derrick was arrested for simple possession of Fentanyl; and Landon Wyatt was charged with simple possession of methamphetamine.
43-year-old Johnny E. Bain, charged with three counts of aggravated assault has applied for supervised pre-trial judicial diversion probation and the prosecution will be suspended for six months while Bain is on CPS supervised probation followed by 6 months of good behavior probation provided he follows all the conditions including performing 20 hours of community service work.
22-year-old Brandon M. Lee, charged with two counts of aggravated assault has applied for supervised pre-trial judicial diversion probation and the prosecution will be suspended for six months while Lee is on CPS supervised probation followed by 6 months of good behavior probation provided he follows all the conditions including performing 20 hours of community service work.