Man guilty of 'minor' charges

Jeffrey Nelson Alexander, Readyville, was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, casual exchange of a Schedule III drug (Suboxone) and possession of drug paraphernalia (a glass pipe) on Dec. 10 by Woodbury patrolman Travis Turney during an investigation of an incident outside McDonald's.
Alexander pleaded guilty to the contributing and casual exchange charges in Cannon County General Sessions Court on Dec. 12.

He received partially suspended sentences of 11 months, 29 days and two days in jail on both counts, and was placed on probation for 11 months, 27 days. The sentences will run concurrent. He was also ordered to stay away from the premises where the offense occurred and to have no contact with the minor.

Alexander must also pay a fine of $750 on the casual exchange conviction and the court costs in both cases, as well as forfeiting any property seized during the investigation. The drug paraphernalia charge was dismissed subject to good and lawful conduct.

• In another recent arrest and conviction, Shane Joe-Allen Byford, Woodbury, was charged with public intoxication, possession of a weapon while under the influence and reckless endangerment with a weapon (second offense) on Nov. 30 by Sgt. Greg Moore of the Cannon County Sheriff's Department.

According to arrest warrants, Byford was allegedly unable to complete standard field sobriety tests. Deputies responded to a location Byford was at following reports of a person shooting a firearm wildly and was found to be in possession of a weapon. Shell casings found less than 25 feet from Byford's residence allegedly matched shells found on his person. Deputies received reports of Byford firing randomly at perceived images, and moving in military-like fashion from cover to cover, and running into a shed to hide.

In Cannon County General Sessions Court on Dec. 13, Byford agreed to revocation for violation of probation. He was ordered to serve 30 days in jail and his probation was extended for 4 months, 27 days. Byford also pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment involving a deadly weapon. He was ordered to serve 30 days in jail and he was given a partially suspended sentence of 11 months, 29 days and was placed on probation for 10 months, 29 days.

Byford was also ordered to pay the court costs and forfeit property seized during the investigation. That sentence will run concurrent to the VOP charge. Byford also pleaded guilty to possession of a handgun while under the influence and a second count of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon. He received suspended sentences of 11 months, 29 days and an equal amount of time on probation in both cases, was ordered to pay the court costs, and forfeit any property seized. Those sentences will run concurrent with each other, but consecutive to the first two sentences.

Other persons charged recently by local law enforcement include:

• A man the Cannon County Sheriff's Department has been seeking for months was taken into custody. Dustin Ray Rogers, Readyville, was served warrants on Nov. 30 on charges of felony evading, reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon and driving while license suspended.

The charges stem from an incident on Aug. 14, when Cannon County Sheriff's deputy Zachery Smith identified Rogers as the driver of a green Chevy Blazer. Rogers had allegedly fled the Cannon County Probation office while officers with the Woodbury Police Department were attempting to serve him with an arrest warrant. Smith attempted to stop Rogers on John Bragg Highway but he accelerated to speeds in excess of 105 mph, passing at least six other vehicles on the shoulder of the road and cutting in between vehicles at an unsafe distance. Rogers bond was set at $15,000 on these charges but he remains incarcerated at the Cannon County Jail.

• Robert Harris Smith Jr., Woodbury, was charged with DUI 4th offense, driving on a revoked or suspended license, possession of a Schedule VI drug (marijuana) and possession of drug paraphernalia on Dec. 5 by Woodbury patrolman John House. Smith was appointed an attorney in Cannon County General Sessions Court on Dec. 12 and his case was continued until Feb. 13.

• Jordan Ward, Woodbury, was charged with theft under $500 by Patrolman John House of the Woodbury Police Department. Ward allegedly stole $180 in cash from AutoZone, according to the warrant. Bond was set at $500. He was scheduled to be in court Dec. 19.

• Kenneth Wayne O'Kelley, Lascassas, was charged with driving without a license on Nov. 22 by Woodbury patrolman Travis Turney.

• Erica Scott was charged with driving on a suspended license on Nov. 25 by Woodbury patrolman Josh Thomas. Initial court date is Jan. 9.

• Steven Lewayne Davis was charged with public intoxication on Nov. 30 by Woodbury patrolman John Thomas. Initial court date is Jan. 9.

• Marlin Christopher Prater, Woodbury, was charged with driving on a revoked license on Nov. 29 by Woodbury patrolman John House. His court date has been set for March 13.

• Joseph Blaine Gunter, Woodbury, was charged with driving while license suspended on Dec. 8 by Woodbury patrolman John House. Initial court is Jan. 9.