March 19, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
A woman was caught trespassing at a county convenience center (dumpster site) on Sunday when it was closed.
22-year-old Anna Danielle Skelton of Midway Road, Smithville is charged with aggravated criminal trespassing. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court April 4.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Sunday March 17 a deputy was summoned to Douglas Road, the site of the county’s convenience center (dumpsters) on McMinnville Highway due to a suspicious vehicle parked there. Upon arrival the officer found a black Chevy S-10 but no one was in the vehicle. After calling out for anyone there to come forward, two people, including Skelton walked out from behind a trash bin inside the convenience center (while it was closed). Both admitted to being on the property without permission. Skelton said she had removed a fence post to gain entry.
38-year-old Melinda Beth Murphy of Wade Street, Smithville is charged with simple possession of a schedule VI drug (marijuana); possession of drug paraphernalia; possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver (heroin); and fabricating or tampering with evidence. Her court date is April 11, and she is under a $20,000 bond.
Sheriff Ray said that on March 16 a deputy pulled over a white Ninja motorcycle for failing to display a turn signal on South Congress Boulevard. After speaking to the operator, Murphy, the deputy asked for a background check through central dispatch and learned that Murphy was wanted in Smith County for failure to appear in court on drug charges. The officer placed Murphy under arrest and met with Smith County Sheriff’s Department deputies. As Murphy got out of the patrol car, the officer noticed that she held two baggies, one of which contained a white powdery substance believed to be heroin which weighed 0.40 grams. The other baggie held a green leafy substance thought to be marijuana which weighed 1.04 grams. Murphy also had in her possession three needles, a spoon with residue, and cotton bits. Later while being served with other active warrants, Murphy was asked if she had taken anything before going to jail. Murphy claimed she had swallowed some fentanyl to avoid being caught with it. After being taken to the hospital’s emergency room, Murphy admitted to staff that she had consumed three grams of fentanyl in powder form.
45-year-old Samuel Wade Walker of Adcock Cemetery Road is charged with driving on a revoked or suspended license and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond is $6,000 and he will make a court appearance April 4.
Sheriff Ray said that on March 16 a deputy pulled over a black Nissan Frontier on Sparta Highway near Evins Mill Road and spoke with the driver, Walker. A background check revealed that Walker’s driver license was suspended on February 29. While conducting an inventory of Walker’s vehicle, the deputy found a loaded syringe on the driver side sun visor.
38-year-old Joshua Lynn McCowan of Andrew Street, Smithville is charged with bringing contraband into a penal institution. His bond is $2,500 and he will make a court appearance April 11.
Sheriff Ray said that on March 16 while booking McCowan on other charges, a correctional officer found in McCowan’s wallet a small plastic baggie containing a white powdery substance. When asked, McCowan admitted that the substance was “bad meth” that he had scraped off a broken pipe. McCowan added that he had forgotten the substance was still in his wallet.