Trespassing Blossoms Into Two Arrests For Magnolia

A Readyville woman was arrested twice in recent weeks on charges of trespassing.

Magnolia Chivon Stephens, 5688 Dickens Hill Rd., Bradyville, was first charged with trespassing on Sept. 3 by Cannon County Sheriff's Deputy Brandon Gullett.

Gullett went to the residence on that date to do an extra patrol on the residence. Upon arrival he observed a female subject (Stephens) walking around on the property. Earlier that day Gullett had advised Stephens by phone not to be back on the property or she would be arrested for trespassing. This had taken place after Mrs. Stephens and been evicted from the residence.

In the second incident, Deputy Brandon Mims was dispatched to 5021 Bradyville Road on Sept. 12 in regard to a report of a person trespassing. Dispatch had advised him the owners were outside with the subject and that they were armed.

"Upon our arrival (Deputy Matthew Parsley and I) there were three people outside the barn and a car inside the barn," Mims report states. "As I approached I noticed a man standing at the front of the car and a female in the car. They appeared to be arguing. As I approached I noticed that the man had a rifle leaned up against the wall.

"I asked the man his name and he told me that his name was Ray Todd. I asked Ray to go out and talk with Deputy Parsley. As Ray was leaving I asked the female in the car what she was doing in the barn. I did recognize the driver as Magnolia Stephens.

"I asked her again was she was in the barn and she told me that she was going to a friends house. She told me that she had gotten lost and was calling them to get directions. When I asked her where her friend lived she could not tell me a general area that her friend lived in.

"I asked her if she had a driver's license on her and she told me no. I asked her if she was driving the car and she told me that she was, but she was trying to find her friends house. She was asked again why she pulled into the barn and she told us that she did not want to sit on the road. I asked her why she did not just pull into a driveway or in a business parking lot. She did not answer me.

"Deputy Parsley told me that the tags were out (expired) on the car. I asked Magnolia if she had insurance on the car and she did not answer me. I asked Magnolia if the keys were in the ignition and she told me they were not. I asked her for the keys and told her to stay in the car.

"Deputy Parsley and I exchanged information on the incident. Deputy Parsley told me that Ray, Eric and David (Todd) told him that they saw the car pull into Olive Branch Road, sit for a few minutes, and then pull into the barn.

"Deputy Parsley went to talk to Magnolia while I tried to get a driver's license (status check) on her. When I returned I asked Magnolia if she had a driver's license and she told me no. I told her she was under arrest for trespass and asked Deputy Parsley to go ahead and transport her to the jail."

Mims obtained statements from the owner of the property (Eric Todd, 350 Olive Branch Rd.) and the other parties involved. The vehicle was towed for storage to Pelham's Auto Salvage.

In addition to trespassing, Stephens was also charged with driving on a suspended license 6th offense and was cited for violation of the vehicle registration law and violation of the financial responsibility law.

Total bond for both the Sept. 3 and Sept. 12 incidents was set at $20,500. Her initial court date is set for Oct. 5.