Press Releases

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Felony Drug Unit obtained convictions against a drug dealer with twenty-one prior felony convictions. Randall Ledon Tate, 58, was convicted of Possession with Intent to Sell Heroin and Alprazolam in a Drug Free School Zone. Judge Steve Sword set the case for sentencing on March 27 where Tate faces at least fifteen years in prison without the possibility of parole.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Major Crimes Unit obtained a forty-year sentence against a convicted felon who shot a man in the face during an argument over a text message. Antonio Cedrick Gipson, 46, was convicted of Second Degree Murder and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. Judge Scott Green imposed the maximum sentence Gipson was facing for Second Degree Murder, forty years in prison without the possibility of parole.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Child Abuse Unit obtained a forty-two-year sentence against a man who sexually assaulted a seven-year-old child. James Theodore Menard, 38, was convicted of Rape of a Child, two counts of Aggravated Sexual Battery, and Distribution of Unlawful Material to Minors.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Felony Drug Unit obtained convictions against a drug trafficker who brought heroin and fentanyl from Michigan to Knoxville. Denzel Damoan Washington, 27, was convicted of Delivery of Heroin in a Drug Free Zone, Possession with Intent to Sell Heroin in a Drug Free Zone, Possession with Intent to Sell Fentanyl in a Drug Free Zone, and Simple Possession of Marijuana. Judge Scott Green revoked Washington’s bond, ordered him into custody, and set the case for sentencing on February 21.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Major Crimes Unit obtained convictions against two men who murdered a woman and shot two other victims during a robbery. Elijah L. Bowman, III, 20, and Amir Hassan Spears, 20, were convicted of First Degree Murder, Especially Aggravated Robbery, and Aggravated Assault. Bowman was also convicted of two counts of Attempted Second Degree Murder. Judge Scott Green imposed a life sentence on the murder count for each defendant and set the case for sentencing on January 17 for the remaining counts.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit obtained convictions against a felon in possession of a loaded handgun. A jury found David Clark Ware, 31, guilty of Unlawful Possession of a Handgun and Simple Possession of Marijuana. Judge Steve Sword set the case for sentencing on January 23.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s DUI Unit obtained a twelve-year sentence against an impaired driver with thirteen prior DUI convictions. Dennis William Bunch, 52, pled guilty to Driving Under the Influence: Sixth or Subsequent Offense. At a sentencing hearing, Judge Bob McGee ordered Bunch to serve twelve years in prison.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Child Abuse Unit obtained convictions against a man who sexually assaulted a seven-year-old child. A jury found James Theodore Menard, 38, guilty-as-charged and convicted him of Rape of a Child, two counts of Aggravated Sexual Battery, and Distribution of Unlawful Material to Minors. Judge Steve Sword revoked Menard’s bond and set the case for sentencing on January 9.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit obtained a forty-year sentence against a member of the White Aryan Resistance. Nicholas Christopher Grassia, III, 28, pled guilty to Aggravated Kidnapping and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. Under the terms of the agreement, Grassia received a sentence of forty years in prison.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit obtained a twenty-two-year sentence against a convicted felon who threatened to kill several women. Terrance Laron Reese, 38, was convicted of three counts of Aggravated Assault, four counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and one count of Vandalism. Judge Steve Sword handed down the sentence today after finding Reece to be a Persistent Offender based upon his seven prior felony convictions.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Major Crimes Unit obtained convictions against a man who beat and kidnapped his ex-girlfriend. Jonathan Darrell Hardin, 31, was convicted of Aggravated Kidnapping and Assault. Judge Steve Sword set the case for sentencing on November 22.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Major Crimes Unit obtained convictions against a murderer who beat and stabbed a man to death in order to steal $63. A jury found Steven Michael Simpson, 46, guilty-as-charged and convicted him of First Degree Murder and Especially Aggravated Robbery. Judge Scott Green imposed a life sentence on the murder count and set the case for sentencing on November 22 on the robbery count.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit obtained a sentence of life in prison plus twenty years against a gunman who killed a man at a local hotel. In June, Alonzo Hoskins, 31, was convicted of First Degree Felony Murder and Especially Aggravated Robbery. Judge Bob McGee imposed the mandatory life sentence on the murder count and stacked twenty years without parole for the robbery count.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Major Crimes Unit obtained multiple convictions against a man who pulled a gun on a taxi driver. Jaquel Aaron Brown, 20, pled guilty to Attempted Aggravated Robbery, two counts of Robbery, Aggravated Burglary, and two counts of Aggravated Assault. Under the terms of the agreement, Brown received an eighteen-year sentence in prison.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Major Crimes Unit obtained a twenty-eight-year sentence against a woman who stabbed a man at a local bar and laughed as he died. In June, a jury found Rickeena Hamilton, 40, guilty-as-charged and convicted her of Second Degree Murder and Tampering with Evidence. Today, Judge Steve Sword imposed a twenty-eight-year sentence, handing down the maximum twenty-five years for Second Degree Murder and stacking three years for Tampering with Evidence.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s DUI Unit obtained convictions against a drunk driver who killed his passenger then tried to blame her for the wreck. Harlan Virgil Ferguson, 32, was convicted of Vehicular Homicide, Evading Arrest, Reckless Endangerment, and Driving Under the Influence. Following the conviction, Judge Bob McGee set the case for sentencing on November 7.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit obtained convictions against a convicted felon who threatened to kill several women. Terrance Laron Reese, 38, was convicted of three counts of Aggravated Assault, four counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and one count of Vandalism. Judge Steve Sword set the case for sentencing on October 31.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Domestic Violence Unit obtained a ten-year sentence against a former professor who beat and kidnapped his wife. Jay William Edwards, Jr., 43, was convicted of Aggravated Kidnapping, Assault, Interference with Emergency Calls, and Domestic Assault. Judge Bob McGee ordered Edwards to serve ten years in prison without the possibility of parole.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit obtained a conviction against a gang member who murdered a seventeen-year-old in Western Heights then wrote a song about it. Bryant Christopher Mitchell, 22, D.O.B. 8/21/97, was convicted of First Degree Murder. After the jury returned its verdict, Judge Scott Green imposed the mandatory life sentence.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Major Crimes Unit obtained a conviction against the defendant who stabbed a man in the heart at a local mosque. Daniel Jay Porter, 34, pled guilty-as-charged to Attempted First Degree Murder and received a sentence of fifteen years without the possibility of parole.