A local man has been sentenced to two years’ probation for stealing bronze vases from a cemetery last March.
Gary Christopher Ponder, 27, entered a guilty plea to theft over $1,000 in DeKalb County Criminal Court on Feb. 20. Judge Gary McKenzie sentenced him to two years on supervised probation, to run consecutively to probation in another case.
According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, Ponder took eleven bronze vases from eleven different gravesites at DeKalb Memorial Gardens, and sold them to a salvage yard in Woodbury.
Patrick Jess Gilliam, 20, of Rogersville pled guilty to one count of evading arrest and one count of reckless endangerment, and was given a two-year sentence in each case, all suspended to supervised probation. The terms will run consecutively for a total of four years. He was given credit for time served from December 12, 2014 to February 20, 2015.
The sheriff said that two Sheriff's Department Detectives dispatched to a report of an unwanted guest on October 16, 2013 stopped a suspected vehicle driven by Gilliam and checked for warrants on him and his passenger. The passenger was found to have a warrant from Hawkins County. When the detectives opened the door of the vehicle and asked the passenger to step out, Gilliam reportedly attempted to flee, precipitating high-speed chase on Highway 56 North.
Hugo Godinez Juareg, 24, pled guilty to reckless endangerment and was given a sentence of 11 months, 29 days on supervised probation.
John Perry, 36, pled guilty to assault and received a sentence of 11 months, 29 days, all suspended to supervised probation. He was given credit for 55 days served.
Kevin Manning, 32, pled guilty to driving under the influence, receiving an 11 month, 29 day sentence, all suspended except 48 hours. He was given jail credit for seven days served. He was ordered to pay a fine of $350, and will lose his license for one year. He must also attend an alcohol safety school and undergo and alcohol and drug assessment.
Robert Wright, III, 27, pled guilty to a second offense of driving under the influence, receiving an 11 month, 29 day sentence suspended to 90 days to serve and 28 days of inpatient treatment. He was fined $610 and will lose his license per Department of Safety regulations. He was given 90 days credit for time served.
Brian Raynes, 38, pled guilty to driving under the influence, and received an 11 month, 29 day sentence. He will be on supervised probation except for 48 hours to serve. He was fined $360, and will lose his license for one year.
Pamela Moyers, 50, pled guilty to driving under the influence, and was given a sentence of 11 months, 29 days, to serve 48 hours. She will be on supervised probation, and was fined $350.
