By David Fisher Staff Reporter

 

    During his appearance in Weakley County Circuit Court on Friday, April 25, former Dresden Attorney Harry Max Speight was sentenced on five counts of theft over $60,000, as well as three counts of theft over $10,000.

    The hearing came as the result of Speight’s appearance in Weakley County Circuit Court on Monday, January 28, when he pled guilty to several charges in an indictment as the result of a plea bargain agreement.

    During his 35 years of practicing law in Weakley County, Speight has been considered by many to be a highly respected and trusted legal attorney in the banking and finance community. Therefore, the charges against him came as quite a shock to the local attorney’s peers, friends, as well as to the many clients he has served over the years.

 

Sentencing Hearing

 

    Since local court officials opted to recuse themselves from being involved in the case, because of their longtime professional relationship with Speight, the Administrative Office of Courts appointed Senior Judge Allen Wallace of Waverly, Tennessee to hear the case. The Administrative Office of Courts also appointed District Attorney Joseph Baugh of Franklin, Tennessee to serve as prosecutor. Memphis Attorney Christopher Sullivan represented Speight during the trial and sentencing proceedings.

    The five counts of theft over $60,000, which as a Class B felony, each carry a sentence range of eight to 12 years in prison, while the three counts of theft over $10,000, classified as a Class C felony, each carry a possible sentence of three to six years in prison.

    After hearing arguments from the defense and prosecution, as well as the testimony of material and character witnesses, Judge Wallace ruled that Speight is a Range I Standard Offender, but based on the evidence, gave him a sentence on the low end of the sentencing range. The judge ruled that the five counts of theft over $60,000 against Speight would run concurrently for a total of eight years in prison. He also ruled that the three counts of theft over $10,000 would carry a three-year sentence each and that they run concurrently, but that the sentence on each of these counts would be suspended, as stipulated in the plea bargain agreement. Additionally, Judge Wallace ruled that once Speight is released from prison, he would be on probation for a period of 11 years.

 

Legal Arguments & Questioning of Defendant

 

    As the hearing got underway, prosecuting attorney Joseph Baugh pointed out to the court that Speight must be sentenced as a Range I Standard Offender, unless defense could prove mitigating circumstances in the case. The prosecution also stressed the importance of restitution. Additionally, during court proceedings, Baugh argued that there were enhancing factors in the case that warranted Speight being sentenced as a standard offender.

    Defense attorney Christopher Sullivan, on the other hand, attempted to get Speight’s sentence lowered by arguing that there were mitigating factors in the case that warranted a lower sentence. In addition to calling Speight to the stand to testify in his own behalf, Sullivan also called four witnesses to vouch for Speight’s character and good intentions in investing his clients’ money, his intention to repay those who lost money, and his remorse. There were also several letters from prominent community leaders submitted to the court in support of Mr. Speight.

(Read the rest of this story in the April 30th print edition of the Dresden Enterprise.)

By David Fisher Staff Reporter

 

    When the community learned that two local students were diagnosed with a serious heart disease, they took action and launched the “Chain of Hope” program to benefit brothers Zachary Terry, 17, and Joshua Terry, 16, of Dresden High School, who are the sons of Ricky Terry and Tracy Spain Robbins.

    On Thursday, Tina Davis, who serves as one of the trustees for the Zachary and Joshua Terry Chain of Hope program, along with her helper, Judy Mathis, were on hand at Dresden High School to hang approximately 8,000 links in a colorful chain around the upper level of the gymnasium, with each link representing a one-dollar donation.

    In November of 2007, Zack was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, and since that time, his brother, Josh, has also been diagnosed with the disorder. Dilated cardiomyopathy is a disease that enlarges the heart muscle and makes it increasingly difficult for the heart to pump blood effectively to the body.

    “We started the trust fund up around March 6 of 2008,” Davis said. “This to help cover all expenses – medical expenses and travel expenses not covered by their insurance.

    “Zack is the one on the National Transplant List at Vanderbilt for a heart transplant,” Davis said. “That’s what we started this for, and the kids at the high school helped kick it off that first day and raised $933. We also took it to the community – not only Weakley County, but Obion County, Henry County, Carroll County – all the way to Shelby County have all contributed to this.

    “We’ve had boxes out all over the community,” Davis said. “But the community response has been great. The main thing is we wanted these boys to know is that this community is behind them. Dresden is behind them, and Dresden has heart. We might not be able to give them a new heart, but we can support them. As of today, we have 8,313 links.”

    Davis said that she and Mathis created the links during about a six-hour period on Tuesday of last week.

She added that Dresden High School principal Chuck West eventually wants the links to be moved into the main halls, so they will be more visible.

 

(Read the rest of this story in the April 30th print edition of the Dresden Enterprise.)

By David Fisher Staff Reporter

   

    An Obion County man was cited for failing to yield right of way to a Weakley County School bus last Tuesday.

    According to an accident report filed by Ptl. John Cross, at approximately 2:47 p.m., 53-year-old Jimmy G. Norton of Rives, Tennessee, who was driving a 2005 Kia Sedan Amanti, pulled off of McClain Road onto Highway 45 in Martin and into the path of a southbound school bus driven by 30-year-old Jennifer Campbell of Sharon.

    Campbell, who was transporting approximately 15 students at the time the accident took place, stated that when Norton’s vehicle pulled into her path, she could not stop the bus in time to prevent a collision, and the car struck the bus in the left- front side.

    Fortunately, there were no injuries reported in the two-vehicle collision. However, the school bus had an estimated $10,000 in damages, while Norton’s vehicle was also listed as receiving extensive damage.

    According to Ptl. Cross, Campbell was driving with an expired license at the time of the crash.

 

(Check out the rest of this story in this week's print edition of the Dresden Enterprise!)