Two Plead Guilty To Simple Pot Possession



Two men who were arrested during a traffic stop in December pled guilty Tuesday in Cannon County General Sessions Court to charges of simple possession of marijuana.

Stan Bennett served as the presiding judge, filling in for Susan Melton, who was attending a judicial conference.

Both Ruben Scott Murphy, 520 Hennessee Rd., Morrison, and Jessee Colton Norwood, 39 Cripps Lane, McMinnville, entered guilty pleas to marijuana possession charges.

Each received a suspended sentence of 11 months, 29 days and were placed on probation for an equal amount of time. They were also fined $250 apiece and assessed court costs.

Cannon County Sheriff's Detective James Davis initiated the traffic stop of the vehicle Murphy was driving on Dec. 10. Det. Davis reported smelling the odor of burnt marijuana as he approached the vehicle. A search revealed a small amount of the drug. Norwood, a passenger in the vehicle, was also charged with simple possession.

In another case Tuesday, Acting Judge Bennett found Tonia Annette Lewter guilty of running a stop sign. During a hearing, Lewter testified she did not run a stop sign in Auburntown near Auburn School. Sheriff Darrell Young, who issued the citation, testified he observed Lewter's vehicle slow down just enough to make a turn, but not come to a complete stop. Lewter was fined $2 and assessed court costs. A charge of not having a wheel tax sticker was dismissed after Lewter said she has since purchased one from the Cannon County Clerk.

Also on Tuesday:

• A charged of violation of the financial responsiblity law against William Owen Hass was dismissed. He was assessed court costs.

• Jordan Blake Hutchins pled guilty to a charge of speeding (98/55). He was fined $10 and assessed court costs.

• Charges of violation of the driver's license registration law and the vehicle registration law against Jonathan Allen Jones were dismissed without cost.

• Tammy Harriett McClain accepted the option of attending traffic school on a charge of speeding (75/55).

• A charge of violation of the financial responsibility law against Jacqueline Wingard Melton was continued until March 15.

• Cameron Taylor Smith was fined $10 and assessed court costs after pleading guilty to speeding (81/55).

• Shelly Renee Stone was fined $2 and assessed court costs after pleading guilty to speeding (64/55).

• John Louis Thomas pled guilty to speeding (77/55) and was fined $2 and assessed court costs.

• Thomas Suthe Washburn, Jr. pled guilty to a charge of violation of the registration law and was fined $2 and assessed court costs. A charge of violation of the financial responsibility law was dismissed.

Those indivduals on the docket who paid their tickets prior to court Tuesday included: Sherry Yvette Breeding (speeding 64/55), Travis Mark Howell (speeding 70/55), Morgan Michelle Murphy (speeding 64/55), Kimberly Dawn Myers (speeding 79/55, seat belt), and Lindsey M. Reed (speeding 64/55, financial responsibility).