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Man sentenced to 8 years in drug death

Posted at 6:44 pm October 25, 2023
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A 36-year-old Anderson County man was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in prison for delivering fentanyl and heroin to a 33-year-old Campbell County man who died about three years ago. The sentence was part of a plea agreement that led to the dismissal of a second-degree murder charge filed against Timothy Wayne Altum, who has a Rocky Top address.

In a plea agreement approved Wednesday, Altum also received two 12-year sentences on drug charges. One was for possessing more than 0.5 grams of methamphetamine for sale, and the other was for having heroin for sale.

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Filed Under: Anderson County, Courts, Front Page News, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Criminal Court, drug death, fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, Nathan Eric Westray, reckless homicide, second-degree murder, Timothy Wayne Altum

For members: Man charged with attempted murder of deputy has two homicide convictions

Posted at 11:15 am May 30, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Charles Edward Mason

Note: This story was last upated at 7 a.m. May 31.

CLINTON—The Anderson County man charged with attempted murder after allegedly pointing a gun at a deputy and pulling the trigger twice in April has previously pleaded guilty to homicides in Kentucky and Tennessee.

Charles Edward Mason

CLINTON—The Anderson County man charged with attempted murder after allegedly pointing a gun at a deputy and pulling the trigger twice in April has previously pleaded guilty to homicides in Kentucky and Tennessee.

The first homicide conviction was in Knox County, Kentucky, in 1994. The second was in Anderson County, Tennessee, in 2010. The defendant, Charles Edward Mason, now 51, received a nine-year sentence in the first case and a seven-year sentence in the second. He had been accused of shooting a man with a pistol in the first case, the one in Kentucky, according to Knox County court records. He reportedly stabbed a man in the Anderson County case 15 years later.

When he was charged with attempted murder in Anderson County this year, Mason was on probation in a different case involving drug and driver’s license violations. He had pleaded guilty in January to possessing more than 0.5 grams of methamphetamine for resale and driving on a revoked or suspended license. He had received a 10-year sentence, and he had agreed to be declared a habitual motor vehicle offender as well, according to Anderson County court records.

Now, he is facing 24 new charges in Anderson County, including two counts of attempted first-degree murder, eight counts of aggravated assault, three counts of aggravated kidnapping, and three drug charges, among other counts.

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If you prefer to send a check, you may do so by mailing one to: Oak Ridge Today P.O. Box 6064 Oak Ridge, TN 37831 Note: Most news stories on Oak Ridge Today are free, brought to you by Oak Ridge Today with help from our advertisers, sponsors, and subscribers. Some are considered premium content. This story is premium content. Premium content can include in-depth, investigative, and exclusive stories.

Filed Under: Anderson County, Anderson County, Courts, Front Page News, Police and Fire, Premium Content, Top Stories Tagged With: aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, Anderson County, Anderson County Criminal Court, Anderson County General Sessions Court, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, attempted first-degree murder, attempted murder, Austin Powell, Charles Edward Mason, Clinton Police Department, Dave Clark, Don Layton, homicide, Jake Stone, James Brooks, Jerry A. Jarrell, murder, plea deal, reckless endangerment, reckless homicide, robbery, Sandra Donaghy, Seventh Judicial District, Tom Marshall

Man pleads guilty to reckless homicide in death of father after argument

Posted at 8:18 am November 2, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

William Brent James

William Brent James

William Brent James

A 22-year-old man pleaded guilty Tuesday to reckless homicide in the death of his father after an argument in an Oak Ridge parking lot in 2014.

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Note: Most news stories on Oak Ridge Today are free, brought to you by Oak Ridge Today with help from our advertisers, sponsors, and subscribers. Some are considered premium content. This story is premium content. Premium content can include in-depth, investigative, and exclusive stories.

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Criminal Court, Anderson County grand jury, best interest plea, Don Elledge, H. Daniel Forrester III, John Criswell, Kevin Craig, Oak Ridge Police Department, reckless homicide, Seventh Judicial District, Tony Craighead, William Brent James, William Michael "Mike" James

Knoxville man pleads guilty to reckless homicide after boy drowns

Posted at 2:28 pm August 22, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

James R. Baysinger

James R. Baysinger

James R. Baysinger

James R. Baysinger

 

CLINTON—A Knoxville man pleaded guilty to reckless homicide on Friday in the death of a five-year-old boy in Anderson County about three years ago. The child was reported to have drowned after being reported missing.

James R. Baysinger, 63, pleaded guilty to the single count of reckless homicide in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton on Friday afternoon. As part of the plea deal, the state will not prosecute a second charge, aggravated child abuse or neglect when the victim, Odin Elwood Fitton, was less than eight years old.

Baysinger has a sentencing hearing scheduled for November 27.

There was no allegation in court on Friday that Baysinger intended to injure or kill Odin. Instead, the boy’s death was alleged to have resulted from recklessness.

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Note: Most news stories on Oak Ridge Today are free, brought to you by Oak Ridge Today with help from our advertisers, sponsors, and subscribers. Some are considered premium content. This story is premium content. Premium content can include in-depth, investigative, and exclusive stories. Many of these stories require at least four hours to report, write, and publish.

Filed Under: Anderson County, Anderson County, Courts, Front Page News, Police and Fire, Premium Content, Top Stories Tagged With: aggravated child abuse or neglect, Anderson County, Anderson County Criminal Court, Anderson County grand jury, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Anthony J. Craighead, Don Elledge, James R. Baysinger, Joseph Fanduzz, Mark Lucas, reckless homicide, sentencing hearing, Seventh Judicial District

Updated: Homicide charge in drug-related fatality could be a first in Anderson County

Posted at 3:06 pm October 4, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Troy Andrew Venable

Troy Andrew Venable

 

This story was last updated at 5:30 p.m.

The reckless homicide charge filed against an Oak Ridge man in a grand jury indictment after a drug-related fatality could be a first in Anderson County, a law enforcement official said.

Troy Andrew Venable, 29, was indicted in April on a reckless homicide charge in the death of Lauren Alexandra Fritts, 26.

Seventh Judicial District Attorney General Dave Clark said it is, as far as he knows, the first time in Anderson County that someone has been indicted on a homicide charge in a drug-related fatality. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Criminal Court, Dave Clark, drug overdose, Drug Policy Alliance, drug-related fatalities, drug-related fatality, fatal drug overdoses, fentanyl, grand jury indictment, heroin, Knoxville News Sentinel, Lauren Alexandra Fritts, Mike Ritter, Oak Ridge Police Department, reckless homicide, Sean McDermott, second-degree murder, Seventh Judicial District, Troy Andrew Venable

Man indicted on reckless homicide charge in death of Lauren Fritts

Posted at 5:41 pm April 11, 2017
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Troy Andrew Venable

Troy Andrew Venable

 

An Oak Ridge man has been indicted on a reckless homicide charge in the death of an Oak Ridge High School graduate and former goalkeeper for the Lady Wildcats who was, at the time of her death, the member and customer service representative at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

Lauren Alexandra Fritts, 26, died Saturday, October 8, 2016, according to her obituary.

Troy Andrew Venable, 28, was indicted on the reckless homicide charge in her death on Tuesday, April 4. He was arrested Friday afternoon and released about four hours later from the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton. His bond has been set at $25,000. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Amy Hawes, Anderson County Criminal Court, Anderson County Detention Facility, Ben Haines, Daniel Freytag, Garrett Robbins, grand jury indictment, John Criswell, John Scott, Lauren Alexandra Fritts, Leigh Ann Corbitt, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats, Oak Ridge Police Department, reckless homicide, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Troy Andrew Venable, William Weaver

Trial for Cromwell, defendant in fatal July 4 parking lot crash, set for Feb. 13

Posted at 7:34 pm December 19, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

lee-cromwell-motion-hearing-sept-21-2016-2-web

The trial for Lee Harold Cromwell, 67, the defendant in a fatal parking lot crash after fireworks in Oak Ridge on July 4, 2015, has been set for the week that starts Monday, February 13, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

CLINTON—The trial for Lee Harold Cromwell, the defendant in a fatal parking lot crash after fireworks in Oak Ridge on July 4, 2015, has been set for the week that starts Monday, February 13, 2017.

The trial will be in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton. Tennessee Senior Judge Paul G. Summers has been appointed to hear the case.

Officials expect that the trial could last at least four days. The plea deadline is 5 p.m. February 3.

Cromwell, 67, is accused of killing one person and injuring 11 others when he backed his Dodge Ram pickup truck through the crowded parking lot at the Midtown Community Center on July 4, 2015, after fireworks at Alvin K. Bissell Park. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Police and Fire, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: aggravated assault, Alvin K. Bissell Park, Anderson County Criminal Court, Anderson County General Sessions Court, Anderson County grand jury, criminally negligent homicide, fatal parking lot crash, James K. Scott, James Robinson, Lee Cromwell, Midtown Community Center, parking lot crash, Paul G. Summers, reckless homicide, Roger Miller, vehicular homicide

Oak Ridge man indicted for reckless homicide

Posted at 12:35 pm January 13, 2016
By John Huotari 2 Comments

William Brent James

William Brent James

An Oak Ridge man has been indicted for reckless homicide in the death of another man in November 2014.

William Brent James, 19, of Warrior Circle, was indicted by the Anderson County Grand Jury on January 5 and arrested Friday, January 9, by Oak Ridge Police Department Detective Kevin Craig.

The indictment alleged James “unlawfully and recklessly” killed Michael William James on or around November 27, 2014. It wasn’t immediately clear if the two men are related.

James has an arraignment scheduled for January 29.

He remained jailed in the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton on Wednesday afternoon. His bond has been set at $25,000, according to jail records.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Detention Facility, Anderson County grand jury, Kevin Craig, Michael William James, Oak Ridge Police Department, reckless homicide, William Brent James

Driver of pickup truck that killed one, injured nine charged with homicide

Posted at 3:37 pm July 22, 2015
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Lee Cromwell

Lee Cromwell

The driver of the Dodge Ram pickup truck that backed through the parking lot at Midtown Community Center after July 4 fireworks, killing one and injuring nine, has been charged with homicide, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment, authorities said.

Lee Cromwell, 65, was arrested at 11:40 a.m. Wednesday at the Oak Ridge Police Department without incident by patrol officers, authorities said.

Cromwell’s truck allegedly hit James Robinson, 37, of Knoxville, killing him, the ORPD said after the crash.

Cromwell has been charged with one count of vehicular homicide, one count of criminally negligent homicide, one count of reckless homicide, 12 counts of aggravated assault, one count of reckless endangerment, and one count of driving with a license that is suspended or revoked, Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Police and Fire, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: aggravated assault, crash, criminally negligent homicide, homicide, James Robinson, Jim Akagi, July 4, July 4 fireworks, Lee Cromwell, Midtown Community Center, Oak Ridge Police Department, parking lot crash, reckless endangerment, reckless homicide, vehicular homicide

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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