Convicted felons to appear in court on gun charges

Merriweather

Nance

Christopher Nance, 20, 27 Lyte Circle, Dyersburg, Tenn., and Damonty Merriweather, 19, 7343 Tenn. Drive Apt. 104, Dyersburg, Tenn., are both charged with unlawful possession of a weapon.

According to court documents, on Wednesday, Jan. 30, Dyersburg Police officers observed Nance allegedly hide a Glock handgun underneath a riding lawn mower at 1117 Palmer St. in Dyersburg. Upon questioning, Merriweather reportedly stated the pistol belonged to him and he had removed it from his waistband prior to Nance placing it under the mower. Merriweather also reportedly stated to police he had purchased the pistol from an unknown subject for $70. A check of the pistol's serial number confirmed it was stolen in Dyer County sometime in 2010.

Merriweather was convicted of robbery for an incident that occurred in January 2011 when, as a juvenile, he and other teenagers robbed Wilson's Mini-Mart at 700 Harrell Avenue in Dyersburg. During that incident, one of the teenagers informed people in the store he had a gun. Another jumped over the counter and struck the clerk in the face. Both of the suspects escaped on foot with an undetermined amount of cash and cigarettes. They were later apprehended in Tiptonville, Tenn. by Lake County Sheriff Bryan Avery after a Crime Stoppers tip came in about their whereabouts.

Nance has reportedly six prior cocaine drug convictions and is currently on probation for the offenses.

Both suspects are being held without bond in the Dyer County Jail. They are scheduled to appear in Dyersburg City Court today.