Dyersburg, Tennessee · Friday, November 20, 2009
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Two plead to drug charges

Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Two men pleaded guilty to drug charges Jan. 6 in Dyer County Circuit Court.

Marcus Antonio Blackwell, 21, 515 Tucker St., Apartment C, pleaded guilty to possessing more than half a gram of cocaine with intent to sell. A related charge of possessing less than half an ounce of marijuana was dismissed. He was sentenced to six months in jail followed by 7.5 years in a community corrections program. He was fined $2,000 but the fine was suspended to $1,000.

Lavan Cortez Johnson, 31, 402 E. 11th St. in Caruthersville, Mo., pleaded guilty to possessing dihydrocodeinone, a Schedule III controlled substance, with intent to sell. He was accused of having 90 Lorcet in his vehicle during a traffic stop on Nov. 1, 2007. He was sentenced to three years in prison but the sentence was suspended to 60 days. He will serve the remainder of the sentence on supervised probation. He was fined $2,000, but the fine was suspended to $500.

In other circuit court action that day:

* Timothy Joe Carpenter, 47, 28902 Cotton Road in Truman, Ark., pleaded guilty to three counts of theft of property less than $500. He was accused of taking merchandise and cash from Manner's Men Shop, Acred Shoe Store and CountryMart on Oct. 14, 2006. On each count, Carpenter was sentenced to concurrent 11-month, 29-day terms in jail. The sentences were suspended immediately and Carpenter was placed on unsupervised probation. He was ordered to pay restitution of $412.23 to Manner's Men Shop, $421.06 to Acred Shoe Store, $382.41 to CountryMart.

* Beverly Pilkenton, address unavailable, was granted diversion on a charge of theft of property in excess of $500. She was accused of taking money, groceries, cigarettes, ammunition and hunting equipment from her employer, Countryside Grocery, between July 1 and Sept. 3. She was placed on supervised probation for two years and ordered to pay $649.50 in court costs and $937.70 in restitution.

* Roy L. Prince, 34, 207 Fuller St. in Newbern, was not prosecuted on a charge of driving on a revoked license.

Also, on Jan. 7, three counts of driving on a revoked license were not prosecuted against Milton L. Kirk Jr., 33, 800 Bruce St.


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Timothy Joe Carpenter, 47, 28902 Cotton Road in Truman, Ark., pleaded guilty to three counts of theft of property less than $500. He was accused of taking merchandise and cash from Manner's Men Shop, Acred Shoe Store and CountryMart on Oct. 14, 2006.

I normally do not say anything about such as this , but....

Mr. Carpenter must know something pretty bad on the judge in this case...because, why was the charge for theft of property less than $500.00, and then his restitution payments total more than $1200.00, and then his sentences were "suspended immediately", and now he's on "unsupervised" probation?

Wonder what the real news is on this...?

-- Posted by Susie Mosley on Tue, Jan 27, 2009, at 8:28 PM

This is about like going to Walmart .Go in give them your money and back out the front door you go. Oh! and don't forget your receipt in case you have to come back !

-- Posted by BIZCUITZNGRAVY on Wed, Jan 28, 2009, at 8:26 AM

Oh yeah ! We are rolling back prices for your convience. 20 Crimes or less you can use the Speedy lines.

-- Posted by BIZCUITZNGRAVY on Wed, Jan 28, 2009, at 8:37 AM

Why is the city advertising for drug dealers and thieves to come to Dyersburg if you want to practice your trade freely ???

-- Posted by spiderman on Wed, Jan 28, 2009, at 9:13 AM

Ms. Mosley,

If you will notice, Mr.Carpenter was found guilty of three counts of theft of property less than $500.00 which would add up to a max of $1500. He may have not been able to post bond and spent numerous days in jail already or has never been in trouble before. There is a story behind all cases. No one case is exactly the same.

-- Posted by Officer'sdaughter on Wed, Jan 28, 2009, at 1:33 PM

its not the judge in these cases, it make a deal phil in action? hope someone runs in next election

-- Posted by jscott on Wed, Jan 28, 2009, at 2:18 PM

I don,t understand the law!!!!!!!! It seem,s to be for the criminals only!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Posted by different/visons/12 on Wed, Jan 28, 2009, at 2:42 PM

Ms. Mosley,

If you will notice, Mr.Carpenter was found guilty of three counts of theft of property less than $500.00 which would add up to a max of $1500. He may have not been able to post bond and spent numerous days in jail already or has never been in trouble before. There is a story behind all cases. No one case is exactly the same.

Thank you, Officer'sdaughter, for the correction and I do certainly stand corrected.

I was just so thrown off by the "suspended immediately" that my attention was swept away from the facts.

It appears to me that this Mr. Carpenter, a 47 year old man, went on a theft spree, that resulted in 3 separate stores being robbed, not of just merchandise, but cash too. My parents taught me before I was 47, not to steal.

He came all the way from Arkansas to rob there in Dyersburg. At the very least he had good taste. He stole from Manner's , and Acred, both upscale establishments. Went to CountryMart to get a few groceries, gotta eat.

The food, if it was food and not the cash, I can overlook. I've always said that I myself would steal to feed my kids, if begging didn't work first (thank goodness I never had to do either ), so I could forgive stealing groceries for his family, but Manner's and Acred, that certainly is "not exactly the same..."

Go Figure???

-- Posted by Susie Mosley on Wed, Jan 28, 2009, at 9:56 PM

It's just going to be worst as these times go by. Due to all the people being laid off. We need to get tough. Judges stand tall and give these people what they deserve.

-- Posted by greymama on Thu, Jan 29, 2009, at 7:01 AM

I have to agree he got off quiet lightly. He is certainly old enough to know right from wrong.

-- Posted by Officer'sdaughter on Thu, Jan 29, 2009, at 7:01 AM

I am in the wrong line of living i need to see what i can steal .

My daughter got more fine than he did all she did was speed a littel bit and seat belt .

But i see why she got fine more some one got to paid for what that man did because he don't have to. it be to hard on him to do it and the law and Judges need there money.

-- Posted by home on Thu, Jan 29, 2009, at 4:39 PM


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