Domestic Violence Offenders Face Stiffer Penalty

Persons who plead guilty or admit to quilt in domestic violence incidents are now receiving tougher consequences in Cannon County.

On Tuesday, Cannon County General Sessions Judge Susan Melton began imposing the stipulation that offenders and their victims can not have contact until the offender has completed a domestic violence intervention assessment and all court costs are paid.

Judge Melton said she added the extra penalty because the court has recently been inundated with domestic violence cases in which the victim is seeking contact with the offender, or vice versa, nearly as soon as the case is resolved.

The results of some of the cases heard in court Tuesday (Oct. 4) include:

• Michael Joseph Andrews admitted to guilt and entered into an agreed order of retirement for 11 months, 29 days on the charges of domestic assault and phone harassment. He was ordered to receive a DVI assessment, pay the litigation tax, and make monthly contact with the local probation service. He is to have no contact with the victim until all conditions are met.

• Dillion Jackson Reger admitted to guilt and entered into an agreed order of retirement for 11 months, 29 days on a charge of domestic assault. He was ordered to pay the litigation tax, obtain a DVI assessment and contact his probation officer monthly. He was also ordered to have no contact with the victim until all conditions imposed by the court are met.

• Ralph Gerald Pena pled guilty to domestic assault. He was given a suspended sentence of 11 months, 29 days, placed on probation for equal time, assessed court costs, ordered to obtain a DVI assessment and to not have any contact with the victim.

• Dustin Ray Bain had a charge of domestic assault dropped by the state after several attempts to subpoena the purported victim failed to bring about an appearance in court.

• Monica Lee Barrett pled guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia. She was given a suspended sentence of 11 months, 29 days and placed on probation for an equal time. She was also fined $150 and assessed court costs. A charge of public intoxication was dismissed.

• David Allen Bedwell pled guilty to violation of probation. He was sentenced to serve 60 days in the Cannon County Jail, his probation was extended 11 months, 29 days, and he was ordered to pay any costs, fines and restitution as directed by the probation service. Bedwell also pled guilty to perjury and was given a suspended sentence of 11 months, 29 days and equal time on probation. He was also fined $200 and assessed court costs. In another case, Bedwell pled guilty to driving without a license and was fined $50 and assessed court costs.

• Cory Steven Bohanan, charged with driving on a suspended license and violation of probation, was reset for Nov. 11.

• Terry Lynn Burger pled guilty to simple possession of a Schedule VI drug. He was given a suspended sentence to 11 months, 29 days and equal time on probation. He was also fined $750, assessed court costs and he must forfeit property seized during the investigation. Charges of simple possession of a Schedule VI drug and possession of drug paraphernalia were dismissed without cost.

• Tiffanie Ernesta Burress failed to appear for a retirement review. A show cause warrant was issued.

• Shane Joallen Byford pled guilty to disorderly conduct. He was given a 30-day suspended sentence, placed on probation for 30 days, fined $10 and assessed court costs.

• Rebecca Paige Bynum failed to appear on the charges of criminal trespass and violation of probation (1st offense). A Capias was issued.

• Kayla Marie Chumley had charges of forgery, criminal conspiracy, criminal attempt burglary of a habitation, theft over $1,000, theft under $500 and violation of terms of retirement bound over to the January term of the Cannon County Grand Jury.

• Jeremy Brian Cope entered a best interest plea of guilty to the charge of simple possession of marijuana. He was placed on probation for 11 months, 29 days, fined $250 and assessed court costs.

• Cassandra L. Deaton forfeited her cash bond on a worthless check charge and the case was dismissed.

• Lucas Lee Dobson, charged with theft over $10,000, was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 8.

• Corey Wayne Ferrell waived his right to a preliminary hearing and had charges of theft over $1,000, theft under $500, criminal conspiracy and criminal attempt burglary of a habitation bound over to the grand jury. However, Ferrell’s attorney indicated his client would enter an information plea admitting guilt to one or more of the charges in Cannon County Circuit Court on Oct. 6.

• Joseph Tyler Green, charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon, failed to appear. A Capias was issued for his arrest.

• Maurice Lee Griffith, charged with manufacture of marijuana and possession of Schedule VI drug, was reset for Nov. 1.

• Devon Aaron Gunter pled guilty to driving on a suspended license (for DUI). A sentencing hearing was scheduled for Dec. 27.

• Noah Wesley Harris failed to appear on the charge of driving on a suspended license. A Show Cause warrant was issued.

• Robert Lewis Judkins, charged with assault on an officer and resisting arrest, was reset for Nov. 8.

• Charlie James King pled guilty to driving on a revoked license. A sentencing hearing was set for Dec. 20. He also pled guilty to violation of the financial responsibility law and was fined $25 and assessed court costs.

• Candice Dawn Laxton pled guilty to two charges of DUI. She was given a partially suspended sentence of 11 months, 29 days on each count, probation for 11/29 and 11/27 (to run consecutive), ordered to serve 96 hours in the county jailed, fined a total of $700, assessed court costs and had her license revoked.

• Mandi Jo Matthews, charged with theft under $500, was reset for Nov. 8.

• James Lee McPeak, charged with theft over $1,000, was reset for Nov. 8.

• Tony Lynn McPeake, charged with driving on a revoked license, violation of the financial responsibility law, violation of the open container law and possession of drug paraphernalia, failed to appear. A Capias was issued for his arrest.

• Aaron Vincent Moon, charged with public intoxication, was reset for Dec. 6.

• Ricky Shannon Nokes waived a preliminary hearing and had a charge of manufacture of marijuana bound over to the grand jury. His attorney indicated Nokes would enter an information plea to the charge on Oct. 6 in circuit court.

• Belinda Robbin Perry, charged with domestic assault and violation of bond conditions, was appointed an attorney, assessed an administrative fee of $20, and was reset for Nov. 1.

• James Christopher Shamlin, II, charged with driving on a suspended license (2nd offense) was reset for Nov. 29.

• Nancy M. Stafford forfeited cash bond on three worthless check charges and the case was dismissed.

• Monti Vallaird Tate had charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and harassment by telephone bound over to the grand jury following a preliminary hearing, during which Judge Melton found there to be sufficient probable cause to do so. The only witness to testify during the hearing was Cannon County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Gullett. Tate represented himself during the hearing.

• Joseph Weldon Warren, scheduled for a domestic assault review, failed a appear. A Show Cause warrant was issued.

• Rodney Lee Welch had a charge of DUI (1st offense) dismissed after the state declined to prosecute, based upon a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation analysis of Welch’s blood taken following his arrest, which showed it to be free and clear of any drugs or alcohol.

• Timmy Lee Young, charged with evading arrest with a motor vehicle, was appointed an attorney and the case was reset for Nov. 1. Young is also facing a DUI charge.