Several people entered pleas in DeKalb Criminal Court last week, including a woman indicted by the DeKalb County Grand Jury for 2nd degree murder in the 2021.
Tommye Lou Bell, 64, pled guilty to reckless homicide and received a TDOC sentence of six years to serve at 30 percent before her release eligibility date. She had been charged in the death of a man believed to have overdosed on Fentanyl. She was been given jail credit of 104 days.
Bell and two co-defendants, 51-year-old Sharon Joyce Malone and 48-year-old Vanessa Louise Lance, were indicted for 2nd degree murder and two counts of possession of schedule II drugs with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver, alleging that between the dates of December 13-16, 2021, Bell, Lance, and Malone did unlawfully and recklessly kill 64-year-old Stephen Wayne Mullican of Old Snows Hill Road, Dowelltown, by the unlawful distribution, delivery, or dispensation of Fentanyl, Acetyl Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Ethanol and that these drugs were the proximate cause of Mullican’s death. Mullican was reportedly Lance’s father.
Bell was also indicted for unlawfully selling the schedule II drugs Fentanyl and Cocaine between the dates of December 13-16, 2021. Malone and Lance were co-indicted for unlawfully delivering the schedule II drugs Fentanyl and Cocaine between December 13-16, 2021.
In other Criminal Court news, Andrea Colleen Claspell, 40, of Greenhill Road, Smithville, pled guilty to aggravated burglary and aggravated assault and was sentenced to three years in each case, all suspended to supervised probation. The cases are to run concurrently. She was also given 34 days jail credit.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, on July 11, 2024, Claspell allegedly drove her vehicle towards another woman, placing the victim in fear of serious injury. She also allegedly ran over the victim’s bicycles, kids’ toys, and a trampoline,
She then entered the residence of a male and placing him in fear of serious bodily injury by striking him in the face, resulting in EMS being called to check the man out. Authorities say Claspell appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or narcotics while driving a Toyota Tacoma, through the victim’s yard, to the roadway, where the vehicle became stuck in a ditch.
The vehicle was later located on Green Hill Road with extensive damage. Claspell was later located walking down the roadway with a bottle of wine in her hand. She reportedly had slurred speech, was unsteady on her feet, and admitted to driving the vehicle as well as consuming alcohol. Claspell had a previous DUI conviction on December 10, 2020 in DeKalb County.
Robert Stephen Ryan Derrick, 25, of East Broad Street pled guilty to possession of a schedule II drug (methamphetamine) over 0.5 grams with intent to sell. He was sentenced to 10-year to serve and was fined $2,000. The sentence is to run consecutive to a probation violation against him. He was given jail credit from March 3 to May 19, 2025.
Johnny E. Bain, 43, applied for supervised pre-trial judicial diversion probation and the prosecution will be suspended for six months while Bain is on CPS supervised probation, followed by six months of good behavior probation, provided he follows all the conditions including performing 20 hours of community service work. He was charged with three counts of aggravated assault.
Brandon M. Lee, 22, applied for supervised pre-trial judicial diversion probation and the prosecution will be suspended for six months while Lee is on CPS supervised probation followed by six months of good behavior probation, provided he follows all the conditions including performing 20 hours of community service work. He was charged with two counts of aggravated assault.
