A 20-year-old Dowelltown man faces two counts of child rape after he allegedly forced his eight-year-old niece to participate in a sexual activities on two separate occasions.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, Jonathan Everett Jay of Snow Hill Road was arrested on Sept. 11 when a detective was dispatched to a residence on Snow Hill Road to look into reports of the sexual assault of an-eight-year old girl. The child's mother reportedly told the investigator that the girl had informed her that Jay had forced her into sexual contact.
When the detective and a member of the Department of Children's Services spoke with the girl, she allegedly told them that Jay had forced her to perform oral sex on two ocassions. After reading the suspect his rights and taking him into custody, the detective said Jay admitted to having had sexual contact with the child on Aug. 27 and Sept.11, while being interviewed at the jail.
His bond was set at $150,000, and he will appear in court Oct. 9.
Meanwhile, the sheriff's department has arrested a 29-year-old local woman and charged her with the theft of jewelry valued at almost $25,000.
Sara Nicole South was charged with theft over $10,000 in connection with the Aug. 8 heist. Sheriff Patrick Ray said South took several pieces of jewelry with a value of $24,125 from a Sparta Highway residence. She allegedly admitted to the theft of a watch and a ring from the home.
Ray said several other pieces of jewelry identified as stolen were found at the apartment where South had been staying.
Michael Dusty Hollis, 18, was charged with theft of property under $500 on Sept. 4.
The sheriff said Hollis took a cell phone valued at more than $350 from a member of the staff at DCHS. His bond was set at $1,500, and he will appear in court Sept. 25.
Eric Wayne Tramel, 29, was charged with criminal impersonation on Sept. 9.
Ray said a deputy saw Tramel walking on College Street in Dowelltown, and having prior knowledge that Tramel had active warrants out of Smith County for his arrest, the officer stopped and spoke with Tramel, who identified himself as Anthony Tramel and gave a false date of birth. The deputy reportedly positively identified Tramel by his tattoos.
His bond was set at $1,500 and he will appear in court Oct. 2.
Johnathan Nelson Sandlin, 32, was charged with domestic assault on Sept. 9. Ray said a deputy dispatched to a Clear Creek Road home in Liberty for a possible domestic assault spoke with a woman who said Sandlin got in her face screaming and shouting, and then pushed her toward the couch and punched holes in the wall.
The woman reportedly told the officer that Sandlin's actions caused her to fear for the safety of herself and her children, who were in the home. Sandlin suffered a cut on his finger from punching the wall.
His bond was set at $2,500, and he will appear in court Oct. 2.
Jessica Renee Scruggs, 26, and 28-year-old Jason Alexander Sturdivant have both been charged with theft of property over $1,000.
The sheriff said that Scruggs and Sturdivant took several pieces of steel from the Sligo construction site on Sept. 8 and 9. They were allegedly found with some of the stolen metal in their possession. The rest of the steel, valued at over $1,000, was reportedly sold to a local recycling business.
Bond for both was set at $7,500, and they will appear in court on Oct. 2.
William Paul McGee, 38, of Morrison was charged with a third offense of driving on a suspended license and issued a citation for driving an off-road vehicle on the highway on Sept. 10.
Ray said a deputy was dispatched to the end of Lowery Road to speak with a possible assault victim, and McGee was reportedly seen driving down the road on a four-wheeler. Having prior knowledge that his license was suspended, the officer stopped McGee. A computer check revealed that his license was suspended for failure to satisfy a citation.
His bond on the driving on suspended license charge was set at $4,500 and he will appear in court on Oct. 2. He will appear in court on the citation on Oct. 10.
William Drane Smallwood, II, 33, of Lebanon was charged with a second offense of driving under the influence and cited for reckless driving and violation of the seatbelt law on Sept. 10.
The sheriff said a deputy spotted a white Dodge pickup leaving a business on Highway 70 West. The truck allegedly entered the highway in a reckless manner, causing the rear end to slide back and forth across the lanes. The officer conducted a traffic stop and found the driver to be Smallwood. He reportedly had a strong odor of alcohol on his person.
Smallwood allegedly told the deputy that he had consumed about 10 beers. He reportedly performed poorly on field sobriety tasks, and submitted to a blood test. A computer check revealed he had a prior DUI in 2012.
His bond was set at $3,000 and he will appear in court Oct. 9.
Jeffery Allen Fults, 39, was charged with a second offense of driving under the influence on Sept. 13. Ray said a deputy saw a white truck leave its lane of travel and stopped the vehicle. He reportedly found Fults to have slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and an odor of alcohol about him.
Fults reportedly told the officer that he had been drinking all day. He performed poorly on field sobriety tasks and submitted to a blood test.
His bond was set at $3,000 and he will appear in court Oct. 9.
Christopher Neil Patterson, 45, was charged with domestic assault on Sept. 14.
The sheriff said a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Big Hickory Court on a domestic disturbance call. The officer spoke with a woman who was very upset. The woman reported that she and her husband, Patterson, had been in an altercation. She reportedly said that Patterson pinned her down on the bed with his knees, causing bruising to her arms. He also allegedly tried to choke her.
The woman reportedly said Patterson threatened to kill her if she got up. Ray said the woman's injuries were consistent with her statement. After an investigation, Patterson was determined to have been the primary aggressor.
His bond was set at $2,500, and he will appear in court Oct. 2.
Jeffery Lynn Hendrix, 27, of Livingston was charged with assault on Sept 14. Ray said Hendrix, a prisoner at the jail, got into an argument with another male inmate. A correctional officer investigated and found them fighting.
Video from the surveillance camera system revealed that Hendrix and the other prisoner pushed each other and then walked away. Hendrix then came up behind the victim and assaulted him.
His bond was set at $1,500 and he will appear in court Oct. 2.
Juan Espinoza Vasquez, 33, of McMinnville was cited for driving on a suspended license, violation of the financial responsibility law, and failure to maintain lane of travel on Sept. 9. Ray said a deputy saw a red truck, driven by Vasquez, leave its lane of travel on Highway 56 South, and performed a traffic stop. A computer checked reportedly revealed that his license was suspended in February for failure to provide proof of financial responsibility.
He will appear in court Oct. 2.
Candace Rochelle Guidry, 34, of Nashville was cited for violation of the light law, simple possession of a Schedule IV drug (Xanax), and possession of drug paraphernalia on Sept. 10. Sheriff Ray said a deputy stopped a white car with a brake light out and spoke with the driver, Guidry. After receiving consent to search the vehicle, he allegedly found a pill believed to be Xanax and a cut straw containing white powder in Guidry's purse. Guidry reportedly told the deputy that the items found belonged to her.
She will appear in court Oct. 2.
Lynn Jay Jones, 40, was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia on Sept. 11. Ray said a deputy saw Jones walking on New Home Road and stopped and spoke with him. A check reportedly revealed that Jones had a warrant against him for violation of probation. While making the arrest, the deputy allegedly found two hypodermic needles on Jones.
He will appear in court Oct. 2.
