A man charged with sale and delivery of heroin and methamphetamine was convicted last week after a trial in DeKalb County Criminal Court. The jury of six men and six women found 42-year-old Michael Chad Owens guilty as charged in the four-count indictment, including one count each of sale and delivery of heroin and one count each of sale and delivery of methamphetamine.
The jury fined Owens a total of $90,000, including $40,000 for sale of heroin, $15,000 for delivery of heroin, $20,000 for sale of methamphetamine, and $15,000 for delivery of heroin.
Owens was indicted in June 2020 as a result of an undercover drug investigation conducted by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.
Judge Wesley Bray revoked Owens’ bond after the verdict and remanded him to the custody of the sheriff pending the outcome of a sentencing hearing set for June 20. Owens could face a total of 45 years in prison.
In other Criminal Court news, a Smithville man found with images of child pornography on his phone on January 13, 2021, was sentenced last Monday. David Yoyden Drennan, 57, plead to sexual exploitation of a minor and received an eight-year sentence to serve at 100 percent with the possibility of 15 percent good time. His name will be added to the state’s sex offender registry and he was given jail credit of 808 days.
Ricky Murphy, 54, entered a plea to driving under the influence and received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended to supervised probation except for 48 hours to serve. He was fined $350 and will lose his driver license for one year.
Jeremiah Martin, 32, plead guilty to sale of a schedule II drug under 0.5 grams. He received a four-year sentence all suspended to supervised probation. The sentence is to run concurrently with a Coffee County case against him. Martin was fined $2,000 and was given 513 days jail credit.
Jessica Dyal, 38, plead to possession with intent to sell under 0.5 grams of methamphetamine. She received a four years all suspended to supervised probation and was fined $2,000. Dyal was given 21 days jail credit.
David Driver, 52, received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended to supervised probation for violation of probation. The sentence is to run concurrently with a Cannon County case against him.
Troy Klingbeil, 61, pled guilty to driving under the influence third offense. He received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days all suspended except for 150 days to serve. Klingbeil was given credit for time served. He will lose his driver license and received a $1,100 fine.
