By Joel Washburn washburn@mckenziebanner.com

 
A McKenzie man charged with two counts of rape of a child and a Buena Vista man charged with criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangerment are among 51 true bills returned by the Carroll County Grand Jury on Monday, May 7 in Carroll County Circuit Court.

Jim Henry McCaig, 27, is charged with two counts of rape of a child that occurred in Huntingdon in 1995 and 1996. Juvenile petitions were originally signed on McCaig, because he was 16 years old when he allegedly raped two girls over a period of approximately two years. The children ranged in age at the time of the assaults from five to eight years old.

Earlie H. Selph, Jr., 49, is charged in connection with a traffic accident that claimed the life of JoEllen Kee of Buena Vista and injured two others in December 2005. Ms. Kee was killed instantly in a head-on collision five miles from Huntingdon on Buena Vista Road.

Other indictments include:

• Jay Arnold, public intoxication.
• Cornelius Antwon Beard, possession of a controlled substance.
• Robert Lewis Bierly, sexual battery, solicitation of a minor.
• Joshua Wayne Black, two counts of aggravated assault.
• Mike Brotherton, DUI, violation of implied consent law.
• Dale Lynn Coats, three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to resale, possession of drug paraphernalia, uses and activities, and selling a controlled substance.
• Norman Randall Cobb, DUI, violation of implied consent law, evading arrest, reckless endangerment, and driving while license cancelled, suspended or revoked.
• Richard Vernon Cooper, promote manufacture of methamphetamine, reckless driving and evading arrest.
• Angela Fason, possession of a controlled substance with intent to resale.
• Jonathan William Flippin, two counts of burglary of motor vehicle, two counts of theft of property, illegal possession of fraudulent use of a credit or debit card, DUI, and possession of a control substance.
• Joseph Paul Gentile, burglary (7 counts), and theft of property (7 counts).
• Thomas Clay Hall, attempt to manufacture a controlled substance, two counts of aggravated child abuse.
• James B. Curtis Hampton, two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to resale and possession of drug paraphernalia, uses and activities.
• Bruce Allen Heater, initiate process of manufacture methamphetamine and failure to appear.
• Thomas Earl Hodgson Jr., manufacturing a controlled substance, promote manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance with intent to resale, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia, uses and activities.
• Debra Kay Jones, theft of property.
• Joseph Leslie Jordan, theft of property.
• Troy Wayne Kelly II, misapplication of contract payment.
• Shelly Ann Lee, manufacturing a controlled substance, promote manufacture of a methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, uses and activities, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to resale.
• Robert Glynn Long, three counts of aggravated sexual battery.
• Gary Lee Marise, possession of a controlled substance with intent, possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, uses and activities.
• Christopher Blayne Martinez, burglary (5 counts) and theft of property (5 counts).
• Darlene Annette Martinez, public intoxication, possession of drugs in workhouse/jail, and leaving the scene of an accident.
• Cynthia Lee Mayberry, possession of a controlled substance with intent to resale, possession of drug paraphernalia, uses and activities.
• Carmen L. McCain, two counts of TennCare fraud and one count of theft of service.
• Walter Lonzo McCall, two counts of aggravated assault.
• Roscoe McClerkin, selling a controlled substance.
• Kenneth L. O’Daniel, manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to resale, possession of drug paraphernalia, uses and activities, habitual motor vehicle offender, DUI and evading arrest.
• Brian Curtis Pate, theft of property.
• Teronna Starr Rawls, manufacturing a controlled substance, promote manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance with intent to resale, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia, uses and activities.
• David Rivera, possession of a controlled substance with intent to resale, aggravated assault, public intoxication, and possession of a controlled substance.
• Justin Lynn Roberts, two counts of theft of identity.
• Javier Salazar, possession of a controlled substance with intent to resale.
• Lewis Wilson Sawyer, possession of a controlled substance with intent to resale, theft of property (two counts), failure to appear, and manufacturing a controlled substance.
• James Scott, two counts of aggravated assault.
• James Edward Simmons, Sr., selling a controlled substance.
• Melanie Ownby Smith, promote manufacture of methamphetamine, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, uses and activities and evading arrest.
• Paul Scott Smith, selling a controlled substance.
• Markus Leshawn Sneed, selling a counterfeit controlled substance, selling a controlled substance.
• Jason Reynolds Stambaugh, selling a controlled substance.
• Rickey Junior Taylor, two counts of aggravated assault.
• Mickey Dean Trull, two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to resale, possession of a controlled substance, alteration of item’s permanent dist. numbers.
• Lincoln P. Turner, two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to resale, possession of drug paraphernalia, uses and activities.
• Autumn L. Wallace, possession of a controlled substance with intent, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, uses and activities, and failure to appear.
• Gary L. Wallace, habitual motor vehicle offender.
• Tonya Laws Warren, possession of a controlled substance with intent to resale.
• Bryan D. Williams, aggravated burglary and aggravated sexual battery.
• Robert Fredric Williams, promote manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, uses and activities, and evading arrest.
• Jeffrey Mark Wood, manufacturing a controlled substance, promote manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance with intent, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia, uses and activities.

 

The Bomb and Arson Division of the Tennessee Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a fire of suspicious nature at Stambaugh Roofing Company located at 25660 Highway 22 in McKenzie, according to McKenzie Assistant Fire Chief Roger Christian. The business is locally owned by Jimmy and Mark Stambaugh.

Two investigators were on the scene Friday and a third was expected to arrive to assist in the investigation, said Christian.

The original call came in at 12:22 a.m. Thursday after a passing motorist noticed the blaze and notified the fire department. Twenty-five firefighters arrived on the scene at 12:27 a.m. and returned to the station at 2:06 a.m.

The firefighters set up a water supply and knocked the fire down quickly, said Christian. He would not disclose what area of the building the fire originated; however, he said the shop-type metal building consisted of an upper deck and offices on one side, with roofing materials stored in the back of the building.

All contents of the building were lost in the fire, according to Jimmy Stambaugh. However, firefighters were able to get several company trucks away from the building before the vehicles sustained damage.

“We plan to rebuild as soon as possible,” said Jimmy, who noted the business would be reconstructed on the same site.

Meanwhile, operation of the roofing business continues.

“Our crews are out working today,” he said Monday morning.

Stambaugh Roofing currently employs 14 individuals. Company representatives may be contacted by calling 352-9261 or 352-4884.

 
Four Henry County residents have been charged in connection with the theft of two motorcycles at Rural King in McKenzie on Tuesday, May 15, according to a report filed by Corporal Dennis Taylor.

Those charged include Joseph Brett Coleman, 31, of Volunteer Drive, Paris; Richard H. Gee, 34, Scott Lane, Paris; Crystal Jo Ruff, 31, Macedonia Road, Henry; and Cynthia D. Woodard, 41, Highway 140 West, Puryear.

According to Taylor’s report, a vehicle was observed at 3:21 a.m. leaving Rural King parking area with its headlights off, the trunk up, and a portion of a motorcycle hanging out of the trunk. The vehicle was traveling north on Highland Avenue. After alerting other officers, the vehicle’s license was checked and blue lights were activated. However, the suspect driver traveled at a higher rate of speed and turned right on Highway 436.

Sgt. Richard Sawyers approached in a separate vehicle and the two officers initiated a felony stop by Taylor passing and Sawyers blocking the rear.

When the vehicle came to a stop, two white males exited the passenger side of the car, refusing a verbal command to stop. Both ran south into Richardson Subdivision.

Two females, Cynthia Woodard and the owner of the vehicle, Crystal J. Greer, aka Crystal Ruff and aka Crystal Somerville with Paris addresses, were taken into custody. Both allegedly gave statements, stating that Gee and Coleman were the subjects who ran. Both reportedly stated Coleman had asked Crystal Ruff to bring him to McKenzie to pick up some clothing.

Ruff stated Coleman drove to Rural King parking lot and got out the vehicle, taking the keys with him, according to the report. Coleman allegedly pushed a 150cc Extreme Championship motorcycle to the rear of the vehicle and, assisted by Gee, loaded the bike in the trunk.

Both females were charged with theft over $1000 and placed under a $2500 bond.

After daylight on the same date, a white male was observed under some bushes on Grandberry Street in Richardson Subdivision, but was not apprehended at that time.

Tuesday afternoon, Richard Gee’s father brought him to City Hall and turned him in. He was arrested for theft over $1000 and felony evading and placed under a $5000 bond. Coleman remained at large at the time of the report.

Further investigation by Rural King and McKenzie Police Corporal Ryan White revealed a surveillance camera recorded a Baja Heat Motorcycle being loaded into the trunk of the same vehicle and driving off at 2:31 a.m.

Gee reportedly gave a statement saying they loaded the motorcycle and drove to Pig Lane in Henry County, where it was unloaded. He stated they returned to Rural King in McKenzie and stole the last motorcycle before being stopped by officers, the report stated.

Value of the Extreme Championship Motorcycle was $1090.00, while the other motorcycle was valued at $500, according to Taylor’s report.

   

A Trezevant man has been arrested in connection with several area burglaries, including an early morning break-in Monday, May 14 at West Carroll Pharmacy on North Broad Street in Trezevant.

Jonathan Hendrix, early 20s, of Trezevant was arrested Monday in Jackson, where he is being held for possession of methamphetamine. He faces burglary charges in Trezevant in connection to the pharmacy break-in.

Monday’s arrest was a multi-jurisdictional effort by Trezevant Police Department, Benton County Sheriff’s Department, Carroll County Sheriff’s Department, Metro Narcotics Division of Jackson Police Department, and Milan Police Department, according to Trezevant Police Chief David Smith.

Smith said he filed an additional warrant Monday, charging Hendrix with the February burglary of Red Oak Auto Sales in Trezevant. He has additionally been charged with theft of property in connection to a vehicle taken from Red Oak Auto, vandalism, for attempting to steal another vehicle and damaging the ignition, and promotion to manufacture methamphetamine, said Smith.

Hendrix, a felon, is also a suspect in a pharmacy burglary in Milan that occurred in April, Smith said.

During the West Carroll Pharmacy break-in, an estimated $737.72 in drugs were taken. According to Chief Smith, burglars broke a glass in the front of the store with a large metal object to gain entrance. The breakage set off the store’s burglar alarm alerting police to the crime. The metal object was found at the scene.

Authorities allegedly recovered much of the drugs, which were primarily controlled substances, in Jackson and at Hendrix’s home in Trezevant.

Smith said Hendrix was linked to the crimes based on information gained through confidential sources and investigation of evidence left at the crime scenes.

 

BRUCETON (May 17) - Four adults and two juveniles have been arrested in connection with a Thursday afternoon armed robbery at Tiger Mart Sudden Service on Broad Street in Bruceton, according to Bruceton Police Investigator Randy Kelley.

Charged with aggravated robbery and theft over $1000 are Tiger Mart Clerks Christine J. Halan, 25, Highlander Road, Camden and Nicole Lynn Dill, 23, North Carroll Street, Bruceton. Also facing the same charges in the robbery are Joshua Lee Slye, 18, Madden Street, Camden; Bradley D. Teague, 22, Rowsey Street, Camden; and two male juveniles from Camden, ages 16 and 17.

The Carroll County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 cell phone call from Halan at 6:35 p.m. stating the store had just been robbed. She told authorities that she and Nicole Dill were working at the store when a white male with a gun came into the business and demanded money. She described the robber as being in his 20s, wearing a white shirt with a long-sleeved dark shirt underneath, shorts, and a hat.

She said the man told them he had a gun and fled the store after demanding money. The money was transported in two boxes, normally used to sell the convenience store’s chicken.

Sgt. Anthony Moon of Bruceton Police Department arrived first on the scene and learned from a witness at the scene that he had observed a gray car parked by the side of the convenience store with several subjects inside the vehicle at the time of the robbery.

An immediate investigation was initiated by Investigator Kelley, Sgt. Moon, Officer Scotty Davis of the Bruceton Police Department, assisted by Camden Police Department and Benton County Sheriff’s Department.

It was determined that a 17-year-old male juvenile had robbed the store, with several co-defendants involved in the robbery, according to Kelley.

The gray car seen at the scene was reportedly a 2006 Pontiac G6 owned by Josh Slye, who was allegedly determined to be the driver. Teague and the other juvenile were passengers in the vehicle, according to the report.

Hagan and Dill were reportedly acquaintances of the other four defendants and the robbery had been planned at an earlier time and carried out with the knowledge of both women, according to Kelley.

Slye, Hagan, and Dill were transported to Carroll County Jail, where bond was set at $10,000 for each. The two juveniles were placed in the custody of the Carroll County Juvenile Office.

Teague, who remained at large when five of the suspects were arrested, turned himself in to Camden Police officials Tuesday afternoon, according to Bruceton Police Chief Ronnie Stewart.

Slye’s 2006 Pontiac and a 1997 Chevrolet car, owned by Nicole Dill, were seized by police for being used in the commission of a felony.

A portion of the stolen money was recovered, according to Kelley.