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Pelizzari joins DA’s office

Posted at 7:38 pm November 16, 2021
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Attorney and prosecutor Brandon Pelizzari, left, is pictured with Seventh Judicial District Attorney General Dave Clark. (Submitted photo)

Attorney and prosecutor Brandon Pelizzari will join the Seventh Judicial District Attorney General’s Office in Clinton on December 1. He will be an assistant district attorney general.

“Brandon is an experienced attorney and prosecutor,” District Attorney General Dave Clark said in a press release. “I am thrilled to add his experience and talent to the office.”

Pelizzari joins the Clinton office after having been a prosecutor of driving under the influence violations in the Eighth Judicial District, mostly assigned to Campbell County, for the past several years, the press release said.

“In addition to his professional skill, Brandon brings familiarity with our community,” Clark said. “As a native Anderson Countian who lives in our community, he will literally be coming home.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Courts, Front Page News, Top Stories Tagged With: Brandon Pelizzari, Dave Clark, district attorney general, prosecutor, Seventh Judicial District, Seventh Judicial District Attorney General’s Office

DA: Granddaughter in murder case was malnourished, smothered

Posted at 10:24 am May 14, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Valerie Stenson

The young granddaughter who died in Oak Ridge in 2011 was malnourished and had been smothered, District Attorney General Dave Clark said Friday, after the child’s grandmother pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last Tuesday.

Emergency workers and law enforcement officers responded to a 911 call at Teller Village Apartments around 1:30 p.m. Monday, April 11, 2011. The grandmother, Valerie Stenson, now 54, was trying to revive her granddaughter, Manhattan Inman, using cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, Clark said in a press release Friday.

“An autopsy reveled that the child was malnourished, and the cause of death was smothering,” said Clark, who is DA in the Seventh Judicial District (Anderson County).

Manhattan was two years and nine months old when she died, Clark said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Courts, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire Tagged With: aggravated child abuse, Alexander Brown, Anderson County Criminal Court, child abuse, Dave Clark, death penalty, district attorney general, Donald R. Elledge, first-degree murder, Manhattan Inman, Oak Ridge Police Department, plea deal, second-degree murder, Seventh Judicial District, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Thomas Slaughter, Tony Craighead, Valerie Stenson

Jail records: About two dozen arrests on drug-related charges Thursday

Posted at 8:12 am May 6, 2016
By John Huotari 16 Comments

Dave Clark

Dave Clark

Note: This story was last updated at 8:26 a.m.

There were about two dozen arrests on drug-related charges in Anderson County on Thursday, according to jail records, as authorities from several agencies swept through Oak Ridge and possibly other communities in what they’ve described as a multi-county criminal investigation.

The most common charge, by far, is manufacturing, delivering, selling, or possessing a controlled substance, according to Anderson County jail records. Counts on that charge vary from one to two dozen, according to jail records, with many of those arrested facing in the range of eight to 11 counts.

Other charges listed against a few of those arrested include possessing a firearm in the commission of a felony, unlawfully carrying a weapon, possessing drug paraphernalia, tampering with evidence, property theft, and simple possession.

Most of those arrested are listed as Oak Ridge residents, but there are also residents of Knoxville, Clinton, Kingston, and Madisonville. The defendants range in age from 20-61. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Clinton, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Tennessee, Top Stories, U.S. Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Clinton Police Department, Dave Clark, district attorney general, drug-related charges, manufacturing delivering selling or possessing a controlled substance, Oak Ridge Police Department, possessing a firearm in the commission of a felony, possessing drug paraphernalia, property theft, Seventh Judicial District, Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force, simple possession, tampering with evidence, unlawfully carrying a weapon

DA: Anderson County had biggest reduction in state in traffic fatalities in 2015

Posted at 12:23 pm January 25, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 2 Comments

Dave Clark

Dave Clark

Anderson County had the greatest reduction in traffic fatalities of any county in Tennessee in 2015, an official said Friday.

In 2014, there were 18 traffic fatalities in Anderson County, District Attorney General Dave Clark said. In 2015, that number dropped to seven, according to statistics maintained by the Tennessee Department of Safety.

“That difference of 11 fewer deaths in Anderson County was the greatest reduction of any Tennessee county,” Clark said.

“The traffic fatality improvements this past year represent 11 people who did not die on our roadways and 11 groups of friends and families who are not grieving this year,” Clark said. “We see the human cost of the deaths on our highways and the utter despair and shock of a family that has suddenly lost someone as the result of a traffic fatality. Therefore, I am particularly pleased with this accomplishment and what it has meant to our community. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Government, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, Dave Clark, distracted driving, district attorney general, Governor’s Highway Safety Office, impaired driving, Tennessee Department of Safety, traffic fatalities

Man sentenced to 30 years for possessing heroin for sale in school zone

Posted at 1:33 pm December 9, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

Charles Randolph Johnson

Charles Randolph Johnson

A man convicted in September of possessing heroin and marijuana for sale in a school zone has been sentenced to 30 years in prison, authorities said.

Charles Randolph Johnson was sentenced by Anderson County Criminal Court Judge Donald R. Elledge on Monday, November 30, District Attorney General Dave Clark said in a press release.

Johnson, a Michigan native, was convicted by a jury on September 18. He was found guilty of possessing heroin with the intent to sell it within 1,000 feet of a school, possessing marijuana with the intent to sell it, and possessing drug paraphernalia, Clark said.

Authorities said Johnson possessed a large amount of heroin and marijuana inside a mobile home near Claxton Elementary School. He was arrested on January 31 when a search warrant was executed after a joint investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, and the Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Criminal Court, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Charles Randolph Johnson, Dave Clark, district attorney general, Donald R. Elledge, heroin, marijuana, Oak Ridge Police Department, possessing heroin, possessing marijuana, Ryan Spitzer, Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration

DA, public defender to discuss county justice system April 21

Posted at 7:41 pm April 12, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Dave Clark

Dave Clark

Tom Marshall

Tom Marshall

League of Women Voters celebrates 69th birthday

Anderson County District Attorney General Dave Clark and Public Defender Tom Marshall will discuss the current status of the county’s justice system during Lunch with the League on Tuesday, April 21.

After their presentation, the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge will celebrate its 69th birthday. Everyone is invited to stay after the meeting or come at 1 p.m. to celebrate with cake and social time, a press release said.

The presentation by Clark and Marshall is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Community, Front Page News, Government, Meetings and Events, Nonprofits, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, Dave Clark, district attorney general, law and order, League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, Lunch with League, LWVOR, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, public defender, Seventh Judicial District, Tom Marshall

Updated: Lunch with League—Law and order in Anderson County

Posted at 10:50 pm February 16, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Dave Clark

Dave Clark

Tom Marshall

Tom Marshall

Note: This Lunch with the League has been canceled due to weather.

Anderson County District Attorney Dave Clark and Public Defender Tom Marshall will be the guest speakers at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, February 17. The program will be held at noon in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

There won’t be defendants, witnesses, or a jury but the prosecutor—Dave Clark—and the defender—Tom Marshall—will discuss the current status of the Anderson County criminal justice system.

The Seventh Judicial District encompasses all of Anderson County. The district attorney is responsible for the prosecution of all criminal cases on behalf of the citizens of the state. The public defender’s office represents individuals accused of crimes who cannot afford a lawyer. Both the district attorney and public defender are elected for eight-year terms. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Community, Front Page News, Government Tagged With: Anderson County, criminal justice, Dave Clark, district attorney, district attorney general, League of Women Voters, League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, Lunch with the League, public defender, Seventh Judicial District, Tom Marshall

Honors: DA Clark named a governor of Tennessee Bar Association

Posted at 3:57 pm September 11, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

Dave Clark

Dave Clark

District Attorney General Dave Clark has been named a governor of the Tennessee Bar Association. The 23-member board controls the activities and business of the Tennessee Bar Association in all its activities across the state.

The TBA represents more than 10,000 lawyers in Tennessee in trying to “foster legal education, maintain the honor and dignity of the profession of law, cultivate professional ethics, and promote improvements in the law and administration of justice,” a press release said.

“It is an honor to be selected to serve in a leadership role among my peers and to help continue the service of the Tennessee Bar Association,” Clark said in the release.

Clark, who represents the Seventh Judicial District (Anderson County), was elected to a second eight-year term as DA in the August 7 county election.

Filed Under: Anderson County, Government, Honors and Spotlight Tagged With: Anderson County, DA, Dave Clark, district attorney general, election, ethics, justice, law, lawyers, legal education, Seventh Judicial District, TBA, Tennessee Bar Association

DA cites Lay’s job ‘performance problems,’ sheriff candidate claims political targeting

Posted at 12:52 am August 4, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Dave Clark

Dave Clark

Note: This story was updated at 10:25 a.m. August 5.

DA responds to political targeting charge

There was no political targeting of Trooper Anthony Lay before his five-day suspension by the Tennessee Highway Patrol in May, but there were “real, serious, and repeated performance failures,” Anderson County District Attorney General Dave Clark said Friday.

Clark documented what he called Lay’s performance issues in a statement released Friday. A DUI charge in one case was dismissed, Clark said, after Lay failed to submit a complete case file and then did not respond to requests for documents by fax, mail, and email. He cited two cases where Lay failed to appear in response to a subpoena. In one of those cases, Lay faced potential arrest for contempt of court and showed up 20 minutes late, but the judge dismissed the case because Lay wasn’t present, the DA said.

Clark said he saved Lay from going to jail in that case because he declined to have the trooper arrested and instead called his sergeant to see if he could get Lay to court to avoid further trouble.

Clark cited another case where he said Lay failed to arrest a driver who was impaired and had four or more prior DUI convictions, possessed drugs and drug paraphernalia, and was a habitual motor vehicle offender. Lay issued the driver a ticket, but he should have taken the driver into custody after the man finished his medical treatment, Clark said.

In issuing his statement Friday, Clark said he was responding to Lay’s charges in recent stories about the trooper’s suspension by the THP in May. In those stories, published in several media outlets, Lay said he was the target of political attacks. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2014 Election, 2014 Election, Anderson County, Government, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, Anthony Lay, August 7 election, case files, contempt of court, Dave Clark, Democrat, district attorney general, election, Hatch Act, Paul White, performance issues, performance problems, political attacks, political targeting, Republican, sheriff, subpoena, suspension, Tennessee Highway Patrol, THP

Reminder: Roane candidates at election forum tonight

Posted at 1:40 pm July 22, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Roane County candidates have been invited to an election forum in Oak Ridge tonight (Tuesday night).

Candidates who have been invited include those in contested races in Roane County for county executive, sheriff, circuit court clerk, circuit court judge, public defender, and Roane County School Board District 3/4, which includes Oak Ridge, have been invited to speak and answer questions.

Unopposed candidates for county attorney, county clerk, trustee, register of deeds, chancellor, criminal court judge, district attorney general, general sessions judges, and County Commission District 4 will be introduced.

The forum is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge. It starts at 7 p.m. in the City Room (A-111) at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge. The college is at 701 Briarcliff Avenue. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2014 Election, Education, Government, K-12, Roane County, Top Stories Tagged With: chancellor, circuit cour clerk, circuit court judge, County Attorney, county clerk, county commission, county executive, Criminal Court Judge, district attorney general, First Christian Church, General Sessions Judge, League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, public defender, register of deeds, Roane County, Roane County School Board, Roane State Community College, sheriff, trustee

Anderson County primary deadline Thursday at noon

Posted at 1:06 pm February 19, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

The deadline to qualify as a candidate in any of the races on the ballot for Anderson County’s May 6 primaries is at noon Thursday.

Here is a look at who has qualified so far:

  • So far, only incumbent Judge Don Elledge has qualified to run for his seat as criminal and circuit judge.
  • Five people have qualified to run in the hotly-contested Juvenile Court judge primaries. Two Democrats—J. Michael Clement and David Dunkirk—are seeking the nomination, while three Republicans—Victoria Bannach, Lauren Biloski, and Brian Hunt—have qualified to seek their party’s nod to run for the seat in the August general election.
  • Brandon Fisher, the current Juvenile Court judge, had qualified to run for the Democratic nomination for chancellor, a seat coming open due to the retirement of William Lantrip, but he announced just a couple of weeks ago that he will be dropping out of the race to join a company in Pennsylvania. On the Republican side, Mike Farley and Phil Harber have qualified to appear on the May ballot. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2014 Election, Anderson County, Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Election Commission, Anthony Lay, Bill Gallaher, Brandon Fisher, Brian Hunt, chancellor, Circuit Court Clerk, county clerk, Dave Clark, David Dunkirk, Democratic primary, district attorney general, Don Elledge, Don Layton, Gary Long, General Sessions, J. Michael Clement, Jeff Cole, Juvenile Court, Lauren Biloski, May 6 primaries, mayor, Mike Farley, Paul White, Phil Harber, primary, public defender, Randy Myers, register of deeds, Republican primary, road superintendent, Rodney Archer, Ron Murch, Ryan Spitzer, sheriff, Terry Frank, Tim Shelton, Tom Marshall, trustee, Tyler Mayes, Victoria Bannach, William Jones, William Lantrip, Zach Bates

County, school officials start campaign to protect children from online predators

Posted at 8:25 pm December 2, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Officials in Anderson County and at local schools have announced an educational campaign designed to protect children from online sexual predators.

Among the concerns are sexting, or the exchange of explicit photos, usually using smart phones, District Attorney General Dave Clark said in a press release.

Clark is working with Anderson County Sheriff Paul White and the Anderson County, Clinton, and Oak Ridge school systems. He said a letter is being sent out to the parents of every child in grades five through 10 in those three systems.

“We want to make parents aware of the dangers posed by online predators and provide them with some strategies to help keep their families safe,” Clark said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Anderson County, Education, Government, K-12, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, Anderson County Schools, Anderson County Sheriff, Clinton, Dave Clark, district attorney general, Larry Foster, nude images, Oak Ridge, online predators, Paul White, pornography, schools, sexting, sexual predators, stalking

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