Several people were sentenced last week in DeKalb Criminal Court, including a man arrested for statutory rape and evading arrest. Tyler Shawn Fowler, 27, of Lebanon, TN, had been indicted for incidents that occurred in late 2021.
On Friday, September 10, 2021, at approximately 3:15 p.m. Fowler led Smithville Police on a chase down Short Mountain Highway. Fowler was reportedly armed and dangerous, and was wanted for aggravated kidnapping out of DeKalb County.
Lt. James Cornelius of the Smithville Police Department had activated his blue lights to initiate a traffic stop on Meadowbrook Drive, but Fowler refused to stop and led police and deputies on a chase through the city and into the county down Short Mountain Highway. Fowler would later crash on a side road and flee on foot.
A manhunt ensued and Fowler was arrested an hour and a half after the chase initially began. THP Trooper Bobby Johnson, Trooper Cothron and K-9 Officer Draco located Fowler hiding and covered by vegetation. Fowler reportedly refused authorities commands and Draco was deployed to secure the man. Fowler was charged with statutory rape, and felony evading.
The indictment alleged that Fowler sexually penetrated a 15-year-old between the dates of April and September 2021. It also alleged that on September 10, 2021, Fowler operated a motor vehicle to attempt to elude law enforcement.
On Monday, August 1, 2022, Fowler pled guilty to one count of aggravated statutory rape, a Class D felony. He was sentenced to three years to serve at 30 percent, and must register with the sex offender registry. He has been given jail credit from September 10, 2021 to August 1, 2022.
Others making pleas in Criminal Court are as follows:
Ashley Williams, 38, pled guilty to one count of facilitation to commit identity theft. She was sentenced to 11 months, 29 days in jail, all suspended to judicial diversion.
Corey Winchester, 36, pled guilty to driving under the influence first offense, and was sentenced to 11/29, all suspended to supervised probation, except for 48 hours to serve, and a $350 fine. He also lost his driver’s license for one year.
Steven Ellis Anderson, 46, pled guilty to one count of sale of a scheduled II drug methamphetamine under .5 grams. He was sentenced to eight years suspended to supervised probation and a $2,000 fine.
William Oscar Meadows, 49, pled guilty to possession of a schedule II drug methamphetamine with intent to sale/deliver less than .5 grams. He was sentenced to six years suspended to supervised probation with 180 days to serve. He was given 180 days jail credit.
