October 31, 2018
By: Dwayne Page
The DeKalb County Grand Jury met in special session Monday and returned sealed indictments in several drug and theft cases along with a statutory rape investigation by the Sheriff’s Department. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation also presented two drug cases to the Grand Jury.
In a prepared statement, Sheriff Patrick Ray said the indictments were the result of an undercover drug operation which started in February. The drug buys included marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, morphine, roxicodone, xanax, oxycodone, and suboxone.
“We made controlled undercover drug buys in different areas of the county including the cities of Alexandria, Dowelltown, and Smithville. We also made controlled undercover drug buys in different communities of the county including the Blue Springs, Snow Hill, Cookeville Highway, Midway, and Short Mountain Highway communities.”
“Some of these buys were in the drug free zone or school zones which are drug free. What that actually means is that when we charge somebody with “violation of the drug free zone or school zone”, it ups the felony charge a class. So if somebody gets charged with a C felony, it ups it to a B felony. Upon a conviction of the charge, the defendant would serve 100% of the jail time. A Drug free zone or Drug Free School Zone is 1,000 feet of any public or private school, preschool, child care agency, public library, recreational center, or recreational parks such as a ballpark,” he continued.
“I want to thank all of my department, especially my Detectives and Chief Deputy who worked on this drug operation and for the job that they are doing in our county. I am very proud to employ people with the professionalism and the desire to work at their jobs so that a difference can be made for the citizens of the county to enjoy their quality of life. My Department is very focused on charging anyone who plagues our county with the sale of illegal drugs. Today’s arrests are an important step to all of us who live, work or visit in DeKalb County,” said Sheriff Ray.
“I encourage anyone who knows anybody that is selling drugs to call our drug tip line at 615-464-6400. We also have a website, www.dekalbsherifftn.com, which has links on the left hand side of the web page where you see “crime stoppers” and “stop drug dealers”. You can get on there and share your information. We can gather it off of there. You can always contact me at the jail and tell anything that you know. Everything is confidential,” Sheriff Ray said.
Those served with indictments to date include the following:
*57 year old Jimmy (TONY) Anthony Davis of Seven Springs Road indicted for 2 counts of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (roxicodone); 1 count of sale and delivery of a schedule IV controlled substance (xanax); and 4 counts of a drug free zone. His bond is $100,000. He will be arraigned in criminal court on December 11.
*18 year old Robert Stephen Derrick of Toad Road, Dowelltown indicted for 2 counts of sale and delivery of a schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana). His bond is $10,000. He will be arraigned December 11.
*53 year old Vincent Rodolphus Helser of Old Snow Hill Road Dowelltown indicted for 3 counts of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine) and 2 counts of a drug free zone. He is under a $75,000 bond and will be arraigned December 11.
*53 year old Angela Louise Howell of Cecil Hale Road, Smithville is indicted for 4 counts of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine) from drug buys and 1 count of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine) on a search warrant the Sheriff’s Department executed on May 23, 2018 at Howell’s residence on Cecil Hale Road. Her bond is $200,000 and she will be arraigned December 11.
*40 year old Jessica Renee Owen of Twilla Lane, Smithville is indicted for 1 count of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (roxicodone) and 2 counts of a drug free zone. She is under a $75,000 bond and will be arraigned December 11
*42 year old Tyrone Dewayne Owens of Shady Drive, Smithville is indicted for 2 counts of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine). His bond is $50,000 and he will be arraigned December 11.
*66 year old Judy Ann Phillips of V.L. Wilson Loop, Smithville indicted for 2 counts of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (morphine) and 4 counts of a drug free zone. Her bond is $50,000 and she will be arraigned December 11.
*39 year old Laurie Anne Southard of Circle Drive, Dowelltown is indicted for 2 counts of sale and delivery of a schedule IV controlled substance (xanax) . She is under a $25,000.00 bond and will be arraigned December 11.
*27 year old Damon Lee West of Laverne Street, Alexandria is indicted for 1 count of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine) and 1 count of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (oxycodone) . His bond is $50,000 and he will be arraigned December 11.
*29 year old Travis Eric Patterson of Toad Road, Dowelltown is indicted for 1 count of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (cocaine); 3 counts of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (methamphetamine); 1 count of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon; 1 count of burglary; 1 count of theft of property; and 1 count of vandalism. His bond is $350,000 and he will be arraigned December 11.
*35 year old James Skyler Miller of South 25th Street New Castle Indiana is indicted for 2 counts of statutory rape. He allegedly had sex with a 16 year old in May and July 2017. Miller was 33 years old at that time. He is a registered sex offender in Indiana
*60 year old Richard Lee Franklin of Winter Drive, Dowelltown is indicted for 1 count of sale and delivery of a schedule III controlled substance (suboxone) . He is under a $25,000 bond and will be arraigned December 11.
*66 year old Melvin Leon Crips Sr. of Village Place, Smithville is indicted for 1 count of sale and delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (roxicodone) and 2 counts of a drug free zone. His bond is $75,000 and he will be arraigned December 11
*25 year old Resha Nicole Martin of Kings Court Circle, Smithville is indicted for 2 counts of sale and delivery of a schedule III controlled substance (suboxone). Her bond is $25,000 and she will be arraigned in criminal court December 11.