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News Headlines
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
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Carpenter's
murder conviction reduced to manslaughter |
Bill Acree, who serves as Circuit Court Judge for the 27th
Judicial District, gave his ruling in a high-profile murder
case, during Thursday morning's hearing in Weakley County
Circuit Court.
Judge Acree ruled in favor of defense's motion to
reduce former Weakley County Sheriff's Deputy Claudell
Carpenter's Nov. 2, 2005 conviction in connection with the
June 16, 2004 shooting death of Joe Martin of Sharon from
second-degree murder to voluntary manslaughter.
Before giving his ruling, Judge Acree first read aloud the
facts of the case. Then, he explained the reasoning behind
his decision in accordance with Tennessee state law, as well
as Tennessee Supreme Court rulings that relate to the case.
Judge Acree began by saying:
"This case is before the Court upon the defendant's
motion for a judgment of acquittal.
"The defendant was indicted for premeditated murder,
felony murder, especially aggravated burglary, and
aggravated assault. This case was tried to a jury, and the
jury found the defendant guilty as indicted, except for the
premeditated murder count. As to that count, the jury found
the defendant guilty of the lesser offence of second degree
murder.
"In the defendant's motion for acquittal, he seeks a
reduction of the second degree murder conviction to
voluntary manslaughter and a dismissal of the felony murder
conviction."
(Read the rest of the story in the May
31st print edition of the
Dresden Enterprise!)
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Contributions to county mayoral candidates in primary
revealed |
In this week's Dresden Enterprise, we list the contributions
(over $100) of those who donated to the campaigns of current
Weakley County Mayor Ron Gifford, and challenger Houston
Patrick.
We do so, not because of any known wrongdoing of either
candidate or by those who donated to their campaigns, but
simply because Mr. Gifford chose to make it an issue during
an interview last week, when he questioned the character of
Mr. Patrick's campaign contributors.
Gifford also stated that he refuses to accept defeat
and will seek to be elected through voter's write-in
ballots.
Mr. Patrick, who received 2,326 votes to Gifford's 2,032
votes, defeated the incumbent in the May 2, Democratic
Primary by a margin of 294 votes.
In order to set the record straight, so the voters of
Weakley County will have a better idea about the issue, or
non-issue as the case may be, official campaign financial
disclosure statements obtained from the Weakley County
Election Commission are provided to reveal the campaign
contributions from January 1 to April 22, 2006 as follows:
All of Mr. Gifford's contributions, which were under
$100 and, therefore un-itemized, totaled $942.50. When Mr.
Gifford's personal contributions amounting to $5,890.69 of
his own money are added in, the total comes to $6,833.19.
The records show that Mr. Patrick received $1,886.50 in
un-itemized contributions (donations less than $100), and
$1,700 in itemized contributions for a total of $3,586.50 in
contributions from area supporters. Even though the law does
not require campaign donations of $100 or less to be
itemized, Mr. Patrick listed those contributions of $100 and
up. He also donated $4,786 to his own campaign for a total
of $8,286.50.
(Read the rest of the story in the May 31st print edition of the
Dresden Enterprise!)
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MPD makes
drug arrests in separate incidents |
According to a press release from the Martin Police
Department, officers made two crack cocaine arrests Saturday
night stemming from two separate traffic stops.
The first arrest occurred when Lieutenant Jason Arant
observed a Pontiac Grand-Am traveling west on Elm Street
being operated by Susan Mayo of 306 West Wade Street in
Union City. Lt. Arant had knowledge that Mrs. Mayo had an
active warrant out of Weakley County General Sessions Court
for failure to appear. The officer also discovered that Mayo
did not have a valid driver's license. As Officer Arant was
conducting a search incident to the arrest, he found two
white rocks in her purse that are believed to be crack
cocaine. Mayo was charged with one count each of possession
of schedule 2 with intent to resale, possession of drug
paraphernalia, driving on a revoked driver's license, and
failure to appear. Lt. Arant also seized Mayo's 1997 Pontiac
Grand Am. The defendant will be arraigned in Weakley County
General Sessions Court Thursday afternoon.
The second arrest took place at 3:24 a.m. when
Patrolman Mike Wenz stopped a black Camaro, because the
driver was playing his music too loud. Officer Wenz then
discovered that the driver, 33-year-old Elam Granville of
602 Clifton Street in Tiptonville, Tennessee, had his
license revoked. Ptl. Wenz states that as he started to
arrest Granville, the defendant became uncooperative and
resisted arrest. A search incident to the arrest resulted in
the discovery of a clear bag in Granville's pants pocket
containing one large white rock believed to be crack
cocaine. The defendant was charged with one count each of
possession of schedule 2, resisting arrest, and driving on a
revoked driver's license. Additionally, he was cited into
Martin City Court for violation of the noise ordinance.
Granville will be arraigned in Weakley County General
Sessions Court Thursday afternoon.
(Read the rest of this story, plus many more in this
week's edition of the Dresden Enterprise!)
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