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Read comments (30)Demario Lamar Turner, 17, 631 Hike, pleaded guilty to especially aggravated burglary, burglary and felony failure to appear charges in Dyer County Circuit Court on Tuesday, May 20.
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Turner was given an eight-year sentence but will be placed on supervised probation after serving a year in jail for especially aggravated burglary. A related charge of aggravated assault was dismissed. Turner is forbidden to have any contact with his victim.
On the second burglary charge, Turner will be placed on supervised probation for two years after he serves the first sentence. He was accused of entering Lee Strayhorn's business on July 25 and taking cash and a handgun. He is to pay Strayhorn $690 restitution and cannot have any contact with Strayhorn.
Turner was sentenced to two years of probation on the failure to appear. The probationary term is to be served concurrently with the first burglary sentence but consecutively with the second. He was accused of failing to appear for his Aug. 2 trial on the first burglary.
In other circuit court action on May 19 and May 20:
* Joe Thomas Boone, 34, 457 Revell Road, pleaded guilty two counts each of theft of property in excess of $1,000 and theft of property in excess of $500. In each of first two charges, he was sentenced to four years in prison, which are to be served consecutively. In each of the second two charges, he was sentenced to two years in prison, which are to be served concurrently with each other but consecutively to the other two sentences.
Boone was accused of taking a pickup truck from Michael Brewer on Feb. 26; a Lincoln Arc stick welder and four Chevy Rally wheels from his step-father, Kelly R. Johnson, on Feb. 24; a compound bow and four arrows from Roy D. Boone on April 17, 2007; and a 6-by-8-foot utility trailer, a Troybilt rear-tine tiller, a Rally rear-tine tiller, diamond plate toolbox, a Craftsman four-drawer toolbox, an eight-foot Werner ladder, a Coleman generator, about 100 Dreamcicle figurines and a Sony compact disk component system from Kelly and Cheryl Johnson's Revell Road home on May 2, 2007.
An additional charge of aggravated burglary was dismissed.
* Angela Kaye Burns, 30, 2105 St. John Ave., pleaded guilty to four counts of selling less than half a gram of cocaine. Additional charges of burglary of a motor vehicle, three counts of forgery, evading arrest in a motor vehicle and third offense driving with a revoked license were not prosecuted.
On each of the cocaine charges, Burns was fined $2,000 and sentenced to five years in prison. The fines were suspended and all of the prison terms are to be served concurrently.
* Leslie Mayberry, 38, address unavailable, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of selling less than half a gram of cocaine. He had originally been indicted for selling more than half a gram of cocaine.
Mayberry was fined $2,000 and sentenced to four and a half years in prison. The sentence is to be served consecutively to all prior sentences. He also must reimburse $100 to the West Tennessee Judicial District Drug Task Force.
* Tiffany Salam Houchens, 29, 98 Brickbat Road, was sentenced on two counts of aggravated burglary. She was sentenced to four years in prison on each count, with the sentences running concurrently and suspended to time served. She also was ordered to successfully complete the drug court program and to pay $510 restitution to James and Marsha Adcock of Rambo Road.
Houchens pleaded guilty to the first burglary in 2005 and was placed on judicial diversion for three years. A notice filed last year indicated that she had not reported to her probation office, had not paid restitution or probation supervision fees and had several charges filed in Dyersburg city court. The diversion agreement was terminated May 19, and Houchens was sentenced. In that case, she was accused of burglarizing the Adcocks' home on Oct. 22, 2004.
In the second charge, Houchens was accused of entering Brian Carroll's house in Finley on July 17, 2007.
* James E. Roark, 19, 317 Polk Road, received an effective two-year sentence on a variety of charges. He pleaded guilty Oct. 23 to driving with a revoked license, possession of more than half an ounce of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance with intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was placed on judicial diversion for four years, but that diversion was revoked on May 19.
Roark was fined $100 and sentenced to six months in jail on the license charge. He was sentenced to one year in prison and a suspended fine of $2,000 on the marijuana charge. He was fined $2,000 and sentenced to two years in prison on the second drug charge. And, he was sentenced to six months in jail on the paraphernalia charge.
* Steve Eugene Thurmond, 45, 1802 Countryman, pleaded guilty to assault and felony failure to appear.
He was sentenced to six months in jail for allegedly attacking Billy Shoulders on Dec. 26. The sentence is to be served concurrently with a prior two-year sentence.
Thurmond also was sentenced to a year in prison after he failed to appear in court on the assault charge. The year in prison is to be served consecutively to his other sentences.
* Sherrie L. Crider, 45, 308 Sellers, pleaded guilty to two charges: possessing more than half a gram of cocaine with intent to sell and felony failure to appear. Additional charges of possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia were dismissed.
On the first charge, she was sentenced to six months in jail, followed by 7.5 years in a community corrections program. She also was fined $2,000.
On the second charge, Crider was sentenced to one year in a community corrections program, which will begin only after she has completed the sentence in the first charge.
* Nancy Pearl Mathis, address unavailable, was not prosecuted on a felony failure to appear. She was accused of failing to report to the Dyer County jail on Jan. 16 after violating probation in two previous sentences. She agreed to a full revocation of her probation in those cases and must now serve a 10-year sentence. After serving a year in jail, she will be allowed to seek a furlough to in-patient drug rehabilitation.
Streetsmart,
Granted, not all people are bad, and crime has no color.
I have never been in a gang, still have family in D burg, last time I looked, they still aren't either. Neither do we take drugs, or partake in any other kind of illegal activities.
I would still have protection if I lived there, because the crime has grown so rampant. I was born there, and never left until I was about 30 years old. Luckily, now I am blessed with living in a VERY serene neighborhood in another state. Here, it is much like how D burg used to be.
You yourself made the comment that you do not live in D burg. So what do you know about it?
In comparison..D-burg State Gazette has changed from writing articles about the local 4-H clubs, and town events to writing about some scumbag beating a woman half to death, and prostitution or drug busts.
So, yes, young man....I would DEFINITELY have protection if I lived there.
I only keep up with the town news because of loved ones who live there. I am very concerned about their well being.
Streetsmart- I have to agree with the others on this one- you're only a baby, and don't know much- Myself, just for the record- I don't smoke weed, take pills, do crack or coke- as a matter of fact I don't do anything illegal, I have no criminal record and have never been in a gang! I'm a wife and mother of 3, and I follow the rules. You need to grow up a bit- all the citizens of Dyersburg aren't bad people as your small brain may think!!!
thank you sinjiones that was exactly what i was thinking finally someone realizes that everything isnt about blacks or whites it is all types of people doing it thesse days thank you what does a twenty year old know anyway heck that is still considered a baby
Streetsmart,
Who made you the representative for all of Dyersburg. You're only 20 and believe that EVERYONE in Dyersburg are all bad.
So, you're saying an 80 year old lady is either smoking weed, on drugs or gang banging. So, all of the folks out there working earning a honest living taking care of their families are on drugs, gang banging, etc. Come on now. You' can't be that smart if you believe that.
Also, when did gang banging become just a black thing. Yes, you said, now the "Whites" are gang banging. Crime, violence, drugs, etc. has no color. It just have people.
EXCUSE ME STREETSMART,, iam not affilated with nor have i been in gang thank you but do think that is all dyersburg is about we have only been here for ten years and i am ready to go back to fl.. they have gangs there but not like this and this is a small town compared to the one in fl that i came up here from
EXCUSE ME STREETSMART,, iam not affilated with nor have i been in gang thank you but do think that is all dyersburg is about we have only been here for ten years and i am ready to go back to fl.. they have gangs there but not like this and this is a small town compared to the one in fl that i came up here from
Let me say that as for as Mr. Boone the value of the items taken was greatly exaggerated and the truck was loaned to him. He just didn't return it as quickly as he should. i guess he should have just cracked somebody's skull.
Citizenofdyersburg: Yeah there is definitely something wrong with that picture. You steal something and get years but kill somebody or at least try to kill them you get off with a slap on the wrist.What's wrong with this town? I know Boone and if you read the paper most of what he stole was from family and a lot of it was recovered before the police report was ever filed. His conscience got the better of him. he wouldn't hurt a fly. Turner on the other hand tried to kill that poor woman. That just sends a message to all who commit crimes. Don't do drugs just go out and kill somebody and you'll get off with a lot less time.Well this is Dburg, what do you expect.
YOU DON'T NEED PROTECTION LIVING IN DYERSBURG. AND EVERYONE THAT I KNOW IN DYERSBURG "WHITE PEOPLE AND BLACK PEOPLE" DO SOME KIND OF DRUG! WETHER IT'S SMOKING WEED, TAKING HYDROCODINE, OR TAKING EXTACY. AND IT'S BEEN GANG ACTIVITY SINCE I CAN REMEMBER AND I'M 20. EVERYONE IN DYERSBURG IS IN A GANG. THEY EVEN HAVE WHITE PEOPLE GANG BANGING NOW!! BUT I DON'T STAY IN DYERSBURG ANYMORE!
I know this sounds like injustice, however this boy will not be out on probation 6 months before he vilolates his probation. I am a jailer in a county jail I see this all too much. This kid has no respect for others, putting him on probation is only 1st step to doing time in the prison system. Trust me I know what Im talking about. Just give this time everyone will be reading about this kid in future news articules after he violates his probation for FAILURE TO APPEAR for starters. once he is releaased he will never check in with his probation officer. He will be brought in for some unrelated crime. When this happens that 8 year sentence he received he he will do in prison, along with whatever he is sentenced to for his new criminal charges. Justice will eventually be served!!!
i know someone that got 4 years in the state penn for forgery,,,it was a $60 check...and this kid gets one year in jail...which means he will be out in about 9 months if not sooner....people remember this when election time rolls around and maybe someone will have the balls to run against Mr. Bivens...
The lady that was beaten lives near my mother. She was nearly killed by this boy and he gets one year!!!!! I bet if he had beaten up someone on a nicer side of town he would have received a much stiffer sentence. I hope that judge sleeps better at night than she and her neighbors do. Shame on him.
We have the wrong judge, and D.A. in power. It is time for them to be removed. The 59 year old woman was nearly beat to death. My prayers goes out to her. She knows that the judicial system failed her.
These punks are often on drugs when they beat up and kill people. Drugs cause BAD things to happen.
Although I am a former Dyersburg resident, I try to keep up with hometown news, as friends and family still reside there. I am appalled at how much the crime rate has exploded over the past few years.
I do not own a gun, as I have no need for one, but I would never live there again without having something for protection.
I'm really tired of this mess. I have lived here in Dyersburg for 6 yrs. And the reason I moved here was because of the small town livin'. But since this is a small town why aren't the people of Dyersburg (lawyers and judges) throw the book at these offenders and keep our town safe for the people that loves this small town. It doesn't matter who you are. If you break the law, you do the extheme time. Heck with this slap on the wrist. I beleive if you do a crime you know its wrong and you have to a price. GET TOUGH DYERSBURG !!! Keep us safe. Just like the poor 12 yr old in Memphis. Watched her mom be murdered by her dad. He lost his rights as soon as he put his hands on her. One apeall then the elecric chair. And not 20 yrs from now. Within a year. Our justice system needs to get tough and stick to it. Esspecially with the DNA nowadays. I want to pull the plug on this guy. A year for a guy that beats a woman and cracked her skull. Whats up with that. And she has to live with that the rest of her life. That ain't right. GET TOUGH DYESBURG
FOLKS I GUESS ITS TIME TO BUY A GUN AND START LETTING CRIMINALS KNOW IF THE LAW DON'T GET CHA THE HOME OWNER WILL . IT SEEMS IT IS BETTER TO BE THE PERPATRTOR THAN BE THE VICTIM . LET THEM KNOW YOU COME IN MY HOUSE AND THREATEN ME YOU TAKE THE CHANCE OF GETTING SHOT . EVEN IF ITS IN THE LEG THAT WILL AT LEAST SLOW THEM DOWN A BIT AND MAKE THEM THINK ABOUT THE NEXT IDEA OF BREAKING IN ON SOMEONE .
I agree Turner should have gotten more time and sentenced for attempted murder rather than an agravated burglary. The lady he assaulted was not an "old" lady.
yhat is so sad,,,, i just got threw crying and the sadest part about it is i am raising three kids here in dyersburg,and it just keeps getting worser my prayers go out to all of them
Oh my gosh! I have been saying the same thing everytime i get on here the DYER COUNTY judicial system is a joke. Too many who knows who. What lawyer you have because if you get a lawyer the judge "parties" with the judge will do what that lawyer wants. "the plea agreement". In dyer county & surrounding counties there is no such thing as blind justice. Just blindness & prejudice. My prayers go out to the people who did not get their justice.
Well said, timay76 and good follow up DEJ01.
This kid walked up to this lady's door and beat her to the point of near death. The city was in an uproar about finding him and having justice served. Rumors spread about gang activity...fouled robbery...and several other things. The boy damn near kills an elderly woman and gets 1 year in jail. People who write bad checks get 30 days. What is wrong with Dyer County. If the judicial system continues to pussyfoot around things and not hold people accountable, then who is going to care about the consequences of their actions. Hell, I might knock off a few that I hate around town...probably on get 2-3 years. Just don't sell marijuana or cocaine....they'll put in the "pen" for 10 years. Moral is "Don't sell drugs...try to kill people" there's less time in it!
I can't believe that Nancy is still coming out like a rose. Everything she does, she gets away with.Smoking crack,selling herself, bad checks and theft after 2 previous sentences ya think they would see she wont get off drugs.Just a way for her to get out of the time she well deserves.
This poor woman will be emoitionaly in Fear for the rest of her LIFE!!!! and it,s true turner will act out the next time. This is sooooooo WRONG.
Well,how many times have we heard this about these teenagers we already got 2 thats up for MURDER,sounds like we might be hearing about another. Come on these kids need to be tried as adults how many more lives is it gonna take for these judges to wake up ? When he beat that old lady like that ,bless her heart, this should have been attempt of muder not aggravated assault . When i got my handgun permit they told us that if someone intent to commet bodily harm and enter your house and attempt to harm you, is grounds to kill your attacker ,in other words its a justified killing ,and thats sounds like he tried to kill her. People please if you are able get your permits get 3 people or more and call Mr Paul Agee in Lake County .Three or more its only 55 dollars if you dont have a gun he will let you qualify with his . Then go to Brighton Arms in Brighton ,Tn and they will get you any gun in your price range .We need to protect ourselfs if the the system wont and it is not by probation, when this kid have all the signs of a killer and that is whats going to happen next and it could have been avoided if they would have kept him in jail were he needs to be !
1 YEAR FOR CRACKING A 59 YEAR OLD LADYS HEAD...AND HAVING A STOLEN HANDGUN..YOU MIGHT WANT HIM TO HAVE CONTACT WITH STRAYHORN, CAUSE STRAYHORN WILL LAY HIM DOWN... HORIZONTALLY!......MAN, THIS IS CRAZY...YOU REALLY GOTTA ASK WHAT IS GOING ON? YOU ALREADY KNOW WE WILL BE READING ABOUT THIS ONE AGAIN....
Come on now, 8 years down to 2 and supervised probation after that????. He was out after beating the lady when he broke into Mr. Strayhorns business. I understand from the prior stories in the State Gazette he wasn't in school that day because it was raining and his mother said she didnt want him to mess up his shoes, OK? And after this, he misses his court date on the first charge. He has shown the court and officials that this is not a priority for him to appear in court. He is a juvenile, so were his parents responsible for getting him to court?? Supervised probation is not going to be enough when he has already committing crimes while waiting to go to court on the first ones. I am sure the lady and her family are not pleased with the outcome or the victims of the burgarly. This is not justice.
one year in jail? he cracked an old lady's skull and didn't get a single day in prison... not to mention he stole a handgun thats probably still floating around on our streets. well, maybe they can still recover the weapon when some young impressionable kid gets high and uses it to kill an innocent person to impress his older friends and prove how 'hard' he is
Boone got 4 yrs for stealing and Turner got 8yrs for beating a woman and only having to serve two. What is wrong with that picture?
"Turner is forbidden to have any contact with his victim."
"He is to pay Strayhorn $690 restitution and cannot have any contact with Strayhorn."
Duh! Little late, don't you think?