Ryan Spitzer Archives - Oak Ridge Today

For members: Drug case involved thousands of pills, overseas apprehension, possible deportation

Posted at 4:34 pm May 4, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

CLINTON—A drug case that started with an online search for Xanax ended with a police search that found more than 10,000 pills in an Anderson County home, an overseas apprehension, three plea deals, and a possible deportation.

The third and final plea deal was entered during a hearing in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton late Friday morning. The defendant, who had been brought to the United States after being detained at an airport in Dubai in July, wants to be deported, his attorney said.

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Exclusive: Two plead guilty in robbery that ends with shooting

Posted at 2:38 pm July 11, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Police Department investigates a shooting on East Holston Lane at about 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

CLINTON—An Oak Ridge man and woman pleaded guilty on Monday to their roles in a robbery that started as a drug deal set up through social media and ended with a shooting that injured one person.

The plea agreements for the two defendants, Nicole Marie Brewer, 21, and Nicholas Rashad Strickland, 27, were entered in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton on Monday. The robbery and shooting were reported on East Holston Lane in Oak Ridge on Tuesday, November 15, 2016.

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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.

McGuire Books closing, while Packard’s store re-opened

Posted at 6:59 pm June 2, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

McGuire Books in Oak Ridge is closing. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the store, which also sells CDs, DVDs, games, and electronics, on Thursday, May 24, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

McGuire Books in Oak Ridge is closing, while Packard’s Games and Movies in Clinton has re-opened and Packard’s in Kingston is expected to re-open.

The McGuire Books store in Oak Ridge, which also sells compact discs, digital video discs, games, and electronics, said it was closing after it was searched and some items were seized by law enforcement starting at about noon Thursday, May 24. The store was open the next day, Friday of last week, with a skeleton crew of staff members, although there were, at that time, shelves that were conspicuously empty at the front of the store. Law enforcement officers were reported to have taken DVDs, games, and some other items.

The search last week, which continued into Thursday night and involved several large moving trucks, was led by the Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force of Anderson County. The CTF was helped by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, the Eighth Judicial District Drug Task Force, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and Clinton Police Department. Seventh Judicial District Attorney General Dave Clark and Assistant District Attorney General Ryan Spitzer were also at the store.

Officers were observed removing boxes of items from McGuire Books and packing them into the moving trucks last week. Crime scene tape blocked entry to the store, and a Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force crime scene truck was parked out front. The purpose of the search has not been announced. [Read more…]

Law enforcement search at McGuire could continue through Thursday night

Posted at 12:02 am May 25, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The law enforcement search at McGuire—a store that sells used books, compact discs, digital video discs, and electronics—is expected to last hours and continue through the night Thursday, May 24, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was last updated at 9:45 a.m. May 25.

The law enforcement search at McGuire—a store that sells used books, compact discs, digital video discs, and electronics—is expected to last hours and continue through the night (Thursday night).

The Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force of Anderson County executed search warrants at McGuire Used Books, CDs, DVDs, Games, and More starting at about noon Thursday. There were reported to be about a dozen employees in the store at the time the search began.

Authorities declined to say why they were searching the store on Thursday afternoon. But they had a stack of moving boxes ready to be folded and numerous boxes folded and ready to be used, and there were several moving trucks parked near the store, including one right in front of it.

Crime scene tape blocked entry to the store, and a Seventh Judicial District Crime Task Force crime scene truck was parked out front.

At about 10 p.m. Thursday, it appeared that boxes with items inside were occasionally being brought out of the store and loaded into the moving truck parked in front of McGuire. [Read more…]

Woman receives three-year sentence in drug overdose

Posted at 5:37 pm March 31, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Heather Marie Rau

An Oak Ridge woman received a three-year prison sentence in a plea agreement on Monday after a drug overdose that reportedly involved a fentanyl analogue last year left a man unconscious on a hallway floor with a very weak pulse and unable to breathe on his own.

Heather Mariue Rau, 30, pleaded guilty in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton on Monday to charges of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment with illegal narcotics (acrylfentanyl), promotion of methamphetamine manufacture, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drugs for sale, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Those charges were from two separate indictments against Rau last year.

A second, duplicate charge of possession of drug paraphernalia was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

Rau must pay court costs and fines that appear to total close to $9,000, according to criminal judgements filed by the Anderson County Circuit Court Clerk. She will receive credit for time served after being jailed at the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton since February 16, 2017. As a standard offender, her release eligibility has been set at 30 percent. [Read more…]

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

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…]

Man convicted of possessing heroin for sale in school zone

Posted at 4:57 pm September 23, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Charles Randolph Johnson

A man who came to Anderson County from the Detroit area has been convicted of possessing heroin and marijuana for sale in a school zone, and he faces 25 to 40 years in prison, authorities said Wednesday.

Charles Randolph Johnson was found guilty on Friday, September 18, Anderson County District Attorney General Dave Clark said in a press release. The jury deliberated for 1.5 hours before announcing their verdict after a trial that lasted 1.5 days.

Johnson has a separate November 10 trial for actually selling the heroin, Clark said in the press release. The DA said Johnson has been charged separately for allegedly selling heroin three times on Coconut Lane near Claxton Elementary School. He also has charges pending for allegedly coercing a witness, Clark said.

The DA said the potential 25- to 40-year sentence for the Friday convictions is based on Johnson’s prior felony record and because the jury found that the crime occurred within a school zone. But the specifics of the sentence will be determined by Anderson County Criminal Court Judge Don Elledge at the November 30 sentencing hearing, Clark said. [Read more…]

Frank, White re-elected; incumbents fare well, but some upsets

Posted at 9:45 pm August 7, 2014
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Anderson County Commissioner Steve Mead, one of the incumbents re-elected Thursday, campaigns during early voting at the Midtown Community Center in Oak Ridge. (Photo by Fred O’Hara Jr.)

Terry Frank

Note: This story was last updated at 2:10 p.m. July 8.

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank was elected to her first four-year term on Thursday, and Sheriff Paul White was elected to a third term.

The election featured several close races, including for sheriff and register of deeds, and there were a few upsets, including for Anderson County Circuit Court Clerk, County Commission District 3, and General Sessions Judge, Division II, where longtime Judge Ron Murch suffered defeat.

Paul White

In the race for the Tennessee House, Representative John Ragan, an Oak Ridge Republican, beat back a primary challenge by newcomer Caitlin Nolan.

All 27 precincts have reported.

Here are the final unofficial election results for contested races:

Anderson County Mayor

Terry Frank, the Republican incumbent—7,586 (52.69 percent)
Jim Hackworth, a Democrat—6,193 (43.01 percent)
Bradley Rickett, an Independent—619 (4.3 percent)

Frank, who was first elected to a two-year term in a special election in August 2012, beat Hackworth, a former state representative and county commissioner, by about 1,400 votes. The two fought over a 1990 tax hike and “turmoil” and lawsuits in the Anderson County Courthouse.

Anderson County Sheriff

Paul White, the Democratic incumbent—7,386 (51.64 percent)
Anthony Lay, a Republican—6,918 (48.36 percent)

White’s margin of victory was just under 500 votes. Lay is a former sheriff in Scott County, and he is currently a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper. The two candidates battled over the food served at the Anderson County jail, crime rate statistics, and the responsiveness of the Sheriff’s Department, among other things. [Read more…]

Votes still coming in, but most incumbents in lead; few upsets possible

Posted at 9:35 pm August 7, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Anderson County Early Voting Campaign Signs

The Thursday election featured the Anderson County general election and the state and federal primaries. Pictured above are campaign signs during early voting at the Midtown Community Center in Oak Ridge.

Note: Please see this newer story for final results.

The votes are still coming in and the Anderson County Election Commission is repairing its website, but early results suggest most incumbents are faring well, although a few upsets are possible.

Here is a look at some preliminary voting results in Anderson County, as reported by BBB-TV, Channel 12 in Oak Ridge, with 16 of 27 precincts reporting. There could be a few upsets, including on Anderson County Commission and in the races for Anderson County General Session Judge, Division II, and Anderson County Circuit Court Clerk.

Anderson County Mayor

Terry Frank, the Republican incumbent, leads Jim Hackworth, a Democrat, and Bradley Rickett, an Independent.

Anderson County Sheriff

Paul White, the Democratic incumbent, leads Anthony Lay, a Republican.

Tennessee House of Representatives

Republican primary

John Ragan, the Republican incumbent, leads Caitlin Nolan, his GOP challenger. [Read more…]

Judicial candidate Spitzer appoints Shelton as campaign treasurer

Posted at 11:33 am April 13, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Pictured above are Ryan Spitzer, center; his treasurer Patti Shelton; and Spitzer’s son Rogan. (Submitted photo)

Ryan Spitzer, a candidate for judge in General Sessions Court, Division I, has named Patti Shelton as his campaign treasurer, a press release said.

Shelton is a former director of Girls Inc. of Oak Ridge, and she is a community volunteer in many organizations, the press release said.

“Ryan has knowledge of the law and a professional demeanor that will serve him well as a judge, and I’m excited to be working on his campaign,” Shelton said. “He is my son-in-law, and I have come to know him as a caring and sincere member of our family who gives 150 percent to whatever he does.” [Read more…]

Friends host ‘meet and greet’ for judicial candidate Ryan Spitzer

Posted at 12:07 am April 7, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Ryan Spitzer

Friends of Ryan Spitzer, a candidate for General Sessions Judge Division 1, will host a “meet and greet” and fundraising reception for Spitzer from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, April 7, at Hensley Happenings Cafe and Grill in Norris.

The event is hosted by George and Kay Davis, Catherine Denenberg, Susan Fowler, Warren and Judy Gooch, C.A. and Judy Ridge, and Jim Ed and Sharon Wallace. They invite voters to come by and meet Spitzer, an attorney who has more than a decade of legal experience in criminal and civil law, a press release said. Refreshments will be served.

Spitzer has served as an assistant district attorney general in Anderson County since 2007. He is unopposed as the Democratic candidate for General Sessions judge in the May 6 primary election. [Read more…]

Assistant DA running for general sessions judge

Posted at 1:38 am February 21, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Ryan Spitzer

Ryan Spitzer, an Anderson County assistant district attorney general, has announced that he will be a candidate for judge in General Sessions Court, Division I in Clinton. Spitzer, an attorney with more than a decade of legal experience in criminal and civil law, filed his petition to seek the judicial position last week with the Anderson County Election Commission.

After four years in private practice, Spitzer joined the staff of District Attorney General Dave Clark in 2007, a press release said. Serving as an assistant DA, he prosecutes those charged with crimes in the General Sessions, Juvenile and Criminal Courts of Anderson County.

“I have practiced in all of the criminal courts in Anderson County, and I have prosecuted the full range of cases, dealing with crime victims from every walk of life,” Spitzer said in the press release. “I have worked closely with our local law enforcement to make Anderson County safer for everyone.”

Spitzer, a Democrat, could oppose Republican Don Layton in the August general election. [Read more…]