General Sessions Court Becomes ‘Retirement' Home



Nearly every week in Cannon County General Sessions Court there are cases involving physical or verbal disputes between two or more people.

These cases commonly include incidents of domestic assault or violence, stalking, or harassment.

Law enforcement officers are required to make an arrest if they determine there is sufficient evidence to charge one or more parties in the incident. Judicial commissioners must issue an arrest warrant to a person who claims they are a victim for the same reason.

However, when the case or cases reach court, many times the victim no longer wishes to prosecute the alleged offender. When that happens the charges are either dismissed immediately, or are “retired” for a period of time sufficient for the offender to prove he or she will conduct themselves appropriately.

A number of the cases heard by Judge Susan Melton in Cannon County General Sessions Court on Tuesday, May 1, were resolved in that manner.

• Deborah Ernestine Fanning entered into an agreed order of retirement for 6 months on a charge of Domestic Violence, subject to good and lawful conduct. She was ordered to not have any contact with the victim or the victim’s family and to pay the county’s litigation tax.

• Winford Nile Belcher entered into an agreed order of retirement for 11 months, 29 days on a charge of Domestic Assault, subject to good and lawful conduct and having no contact with the victim or victim’s family.

• Beau Andrew Carter entered into an agreed order of retirement for 11 months, 29 days on a charge of Harassment, subject to good and lawful conduct. He was also ordered to pay the county’s litigation tax.

• Clinton Lee Creech had a charge of Domestic Assault dismissed by the state. His accuser, Leeann Baker Huneycutt, is reportedly under investigation for allegedly filing false reports.

• Jay A. McRoy had a charge of Phone Harassment dismissed at the request of the State.

• Dustin Shane Rublee had a charge of Stalking dismissed by the State at the request of the purported victim.

• Ashley Renee Taylor had a charge of Phone Harassment dismissed at the request of the State.

• Luanne Rains had a charge of Assault dismissed at the request of the State.

• Gregory Allen Arnold entered a no contest plea to Simple Assault. He received a 6-month suspended sentence, equal probation time, was ordered to have no contact with the victim and was assessed court costs. He also entered into an agreed order of retirement subject to good and lawful conduct for Violation of Protection Order and was ordered to pay the county’s litigation tax. 

• Russell Lee Whittington pled guilty to Simple Possession of Marijuana. He was given a suspended sentence of 11 months, 29 days, equal time on probation, fined $250 and assessed court costs.

• Todd Tweedel had a charge of Theft Over $1,000 continued for 11 months, 29 days, subject to good and lawful conduct. He was also order to pay the county’s litigation tax and restitution of the victim in the amount of $850.

• Peter Jerome Joyce pled guilty to two counts of Attempted Forgery. He was given two concurrent sentences of 11 months, 29 days and ordered to serve them in their entirety. He will serve them in the Rutherford County Jail concurrent to a sentence he is already serving.

• Jonathan Wayne Kestner entered into an agreed order or retirement, subject to good and lawful conduct for 6 month, on a charge of Disorderly Conduct. He was also ordered to pay the county’s litigation tax.

 • Jamie Roller pled guilty to Theft Over $500. He was sentenced to 11 months, 29 days in the Cannon County Jail to the pay restitution in the amount of $750. He also pled guilty to Possession of Schedule VI Narcotics and was ordered to serve 11 months, 29 days in jail and fined $250. The sentences will run concurrent. A charge of Simple Possession of Drug Paraphernalia was dismissed.

• Tiffany Dawn Scott pled guilty to Driving While License Suspended. Sentencing was set for Aug. 7.

• Amanda Dawn Brewer pled guilty to Driving Without a License. She received a 30-day suspended sentence, a $2 fine and was assessed court costs.

• Cody Blake Brown pled guilty to Violation of Probation. His probation was extended for 30 days.

• Jose R. Corcino forfeited cash bond on a Worthless Check charge and the case was dismissed.

• Anthony Lee Curtis pled guilty to Driving Without a License. He received a 30-day suspended sentence, was fined $2, and assessed court costs.

• Angelo Deconto pled guilty to Driving While License Suspended 2nd Offense. Sentencing was set for Aug. 7.

• April L. Davis forfeited cash bond on a Worthless Check charge and the case was dismissed.

• Troy Dale Gibson pled guilty to Violation of Probation. He was ordered to serve 45 days in the county jail and his probation was extended for 9 months, 15 days.

• Charles Randell Hancock, Jr. pled guilty to Driving While License Revoked. Sentencing was set for Aug. 6. Charges of Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Financial Responsibility violation and Registration violation were dismissed.

• Adam Levoy McClure pled guilty to Driving While License Suspended 2nd Offense. Sentencing was set for Aug. 7.

• Eric J. Hill pled guilty to Violation of Probation. He was ordered to serve 40 days in the county jail and his probation was extended for 5 months.

• Melissa Carol McTaggart pled guilty to Public Intoxication. She was ordered to serve 15 days in jail. A Criminal Trespass charge was dismissed.

• Brian L. Prater pled guilty to Driving While License Revoked. He received a suspended sentence of 11 months, 29 days and equal time on probation. He was also assessed court costs. Charges of Registration and Financial Responsibility violations were dismissed.

• Tina Elaine Meador (Mullen) was granted her petition for a Suspended Sentence. She was furloughed under house arrest and must where an electronic monitor. Her probation was extended 36 months, 26 days.

• Brent M. Pewitt failed to appear on a charge of Violation of Probation. A Capias was issued for his arrest.

• Glenn Richard Smotherman failed to appear on a charge of Public Intoxication. A Capias was issued for his arrest.

• Caden Kensley Jones had a Show Cause Order issued after he failed to appear on Criminal Trespass (Litigation Tax not paid).

• Jennifer Carol Pittard failed to appear on a charge of Violation of Probation. A Capias was issued for her arrest.

• Nelson Celaya Ramos failed to appear on charges of Driving Without a License, Speeding (88/55) and Financial Responsibility violation. A Capias was issued for his arrest.

• Franklin E. Shiney, Jr. failed to appear on a charge of Driving While License Suspended 2nd Offense. A Show Cause Order was issued.

• Catherine Marie Sherrell had charges of Theft Under $500 and Violation of Probation reset for May 22.

• Rachel Marie Scour had charges of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of Legend Drug reset for June 6.

• Joseph Matthew Taylor had a charge of DUI and Implied Consent violation reset for June 5.

• Destiny Machea Thompson had charges of Driving While License Suspended, Speeding (70/55), Financial Responsibility, Wheel Tax and Improper Tag Display violations reset for July 10.

• James David Warner had a charge of Domestic Assault reset for July 10.

• Micah Flint Womack had a charge of DUI reset for July 10.

• Jeffrey Howard Bean, charged with DUI 3rd Offense, was reset for July 10.

• Verna Irene Bean, charged with DUI By Allowance, was reset for July 10.

• Abul K. Alataby, charged with DUI and Driving While License Suspended, was reset for June 19.

• Jesse M. Burke, charged with Underage Driving While Impaired, was reset for June 12.

• Cody Ryan Burnett, charged with Reckless Endangerment, False Report and Misuse of 911, was reset for July 10.

• Glenn Lawrence Brannan, charged with Aggravated Assault, was reset for June 5.

• Julia Hazard had a charge of Aggravated Assault reset for June 5.

• Lisa Michelle Toombs had charges of Aggravated Burglary and Theft Over $1,000 reset for June 5.

• Mario Gregory had charges of Habitual Driving Offender, Driving While License Revoked 6th Offense, Registration violation and Insurance violation bound over to the May 25 Term of the Cannon County Grand Jury. He was also granted a medical furlough.

• Scotty Glenn Grizzle, charged with Driving While License Suspended 3rd Offense, was reset for May 12.

• George Owen Mears had a  DUI charge reset for June 5.

• Bethany Tate Elrod had a Violation of Probation charge reset for July 10.

• Cody C. Fricks, charged with Theft Over $1,0000 (two counts) and Theft of $500, was continued until June 12.

• Travis Payne Pinkerton had charges of Criminal Trespass and Theft reset for July 10.

• Haley Marie Holmes had a charge of Criminal Trespass reset for July 10. She was also appointed an attorney and assessed an administrative fee of $50.

• Dallas Jay Rogers had charges of Theft of Property Under $500 and Violation of Probation reset for July 10.

• Dustin Ray Rogers had a charge of Theft of Property Under $500 reset for July 10.

• Justin L. Rogers had charges of Aggravated Domestic Assault and Kidnapping reset for July 10.

• Timothy Ray Rogers had a charge of Theft of Property Under $500 reset for July 10.

• Demetria Rufina Leath had a charge of Domestic Assault reset for June 5.

• Jason Ray Leath had a charge of Domestic Assault reset for June 5.

• Freddie L. Manus had reset for June 5 charges of DUI, Simple Possession, Implied Consent, Improper Passing, Insurance law, Simple Possession and Drug Paraphernalia.

• Cory Scott McNeese had a charge of Driving While License Suspended 4th Offense reset for July 10.