Press Releases

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.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit obtained a conviction against a Crips gang member who carjacked a veteran at an ATM. Edward Laquan Springs, 23, was convicted of Carjacking, and the jury also found him to be a member of the Crips street gang. Judge Scott Green set the case for sentencing on September 26 where Springs faces between fifteen and twenty-five years in prison.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Child Abuse Unit obtained a forty-year sentence against a man who raped a ten-year-old child. Cody Lynn Wyrick, 25, was convicted of Rape of a Child, Rape, and Aggravated Sexual Battery. Judge Steve Sword sentenced Wyrick to serve forty years in prison without the possibility of parole.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Major Crimes Unit obtained convictions against a woman who stabbed a man at a local bar and laughed as he died. A jury found Rickeena Hamilton, 39, guilty-as-charged and convicted her of Second Degree Murder and Tampering with Evidence. Judge Steve Sword revoked Hamilton’s bond, ordered her into custody, and set the case for sentencing on September 12.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit obtained convictions against a gunman who killed a man at a local hotel. 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 set the case for sentencing on July 19 for the robbery count.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Major Crimes Unit obtained a conviction against a man who murdered the victim over an insult. Christopher Leon Clark, 37, was convicted of First Degree Murder. Upon conviction, Judge Steve Sword sentenced Clark to serve life in prison.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s DUI Unit obtained convictions against a repeat impaired driver who killed another motorist on Pleasant Ridge Road. Kitty Marie Yearout, 49, pled guilty to Aggravated Vehicular Homicide and Vehicular Assault. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Yearout will receive a sentence of fifteen years to serve in the Tennessee Department of Correction.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s DUI Unit obtained a conviction against an impaired driver who had alcohol, marijuana, and bath salts in his system. John Arthur Bury, 36, was convicted of Driving Under the Influence. Judge Scott Green set the case for sentencing on July 26.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Child Abuse Unit obtained multiple convictions against a man who raped a ten-year-old child. Cody Lynn Wyrick, 25, was convicted of Rape of a Child, Rape, and Aggravated Sexual Battery. Judge Steve Sword revoked Wyrick’s bond, ordered him into custody, and set the case for sentencing on July 12.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Domestic Violence Unit obtained convictions against a former professor who beat and kidnapped his wife. Jay William Edwards, Jr., 42, was convicted of Aggravated Kidnapping, Assault, Interference with Emergency Calls, and Domestic Assault. Judge Bob McGee revoked Edwards’ bond, ordered him into custody, and set the case for sentencing on June 27.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit obtained a seventy-five-year sentence against a Crips gang member who pistol-whipped a Dollar General employee with a handgun during a robbery. Charles Bernard Griffin, 41, was convicted of Especially Aggravated Robbery and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit obtained convictions against a man who attempted to rob a Dollar General store using a flashlight. Randy Lee Woody, 51, was convicted of Attempted Aggravated Robbery and Assault. Judge Scott Green revoked Woody’s bond and set the case for sentencing on May 31.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s White Collar Unit obtained convictions against the leader of a check-cashing ring who used homeless people to cash fraudulent checks. Lee Otis Wilson, 36, was convicted of four counts of Identity Theft and one count of Identity Theft Trafficking. Judge Scott Green sentenced Wilson to serve eight years in prison.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit sent two men from Detroit to prison today following a violent kidnapping in north Knoxville. Darius Patterson, 29, was convicted of Especially Aggravated Kidnapping, Possession with Intent to Sell Cocaine, Possession with Intent to Sell Heroin, and Employing a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony. Patterson received a forty-year-sentence without the possibility of parole. Co-defendant Lavan Tremayne Johnson, 20, was convicted of Especially Aggravated Kidnapping, Possession with Intent to Sell Heroin, and Possession with Intent to Manufacture Fentanyl. Johnson was sentenced to serve thirty years in prison and is not eligible for parole until after he serves fifteen years.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allens Major Crimes Unit and officers with KPDs Violence Reduction Team closed a local nightclub under the state nuisance law. The Vibe, located at 2630 North Broadway, was closed by order of Judge Bob McGee based on gang activity, shootings, and extremely violent behavior occurring at the club.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s office obtained a forty-eight-year sentence against a drug dealer who led officers on a high-speed chase in two counties before running a red light at seventy miles-per-hour, killing two people. Ralpheal Cameron Coffey, 29, was convicted of two counts of Vehicular Homicide, two counts of Reckless Homicide, two counts of Evading Arrest, Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Cocaine in a Drug Free School Zone, Simple Possession, and Driving on a Revoked License.