Press Releases

District Attorney General Charme P. Allen is pleased to announce that Governor Haslam has signed into law her proposal to strengthen state laws prohibiting the use of electronic devices by school bus drivers. General Allen worked closely with bill sponsors Senator Becky Duncan Massey and Representative Eddie Smith over the past several months to ensure its passage before the General Assembly.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit obtained a conviction against a multi-convicted felon who burglarized Wal-Mart. Following a two-day trial, Nikia Tnaha Bowens, 40, was convicted of Burglary and Theft. After the jury returned their verdict, Judge Steve Sword set the case for sentencing on June 23.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s DUI Unit obtained a conviction against an impaired driver who was about to merge onto Interstate 40 late at night without headlights. Despite refusing field sobriety tests or blood alcohol tests, John Watson Helvey, 47, was convicted of Driving Under the Influence. After the jury returned their verdict, Judge Bob McGee set the case for sentencing on June 9.

Prosecutors in District Attorney General Charme Allen’s White Collar Unit obtained a conviction today against a man who set fire to his home in order to collect on a fraudulent insurance claim. Reuben Eugene Mitchell, 46, was convicted by a jury of Arson and False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims over $10,000.

A repeat drunk driver was sentenced to the maximum sentence allowable under state law after DUI prosecutors in General Charme Allen’s office obtained a conviction following a February trial in a case against a man who crashed his vehicle into a parked car while intoxicated. Jeremy Ledyard Nathan, 37, was sentenced to serve eleven months and twenty-nine days in jail for Driving Under the Influence Third Offense.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Child Abuse Unit obtained multiple convictions against a man who gave a sixteen-year-old girl prescription pills then raped her. Following a two-day trial, Buford E. Trammell, 55, was convicted of multiple counts of Rape, Statutory Rape by an Authority Figure, Sexual Battery by an Authority Figure, Solicitation of a Minor, and Casual Exchange with a Minor.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Felony Drug Unit and investigators with KPD’s Organized Crime Unit closed a local nightclub under the state nuisance law. Club Dejavu, located at 2619 Chapman Highway, was closed by order of Judge Steve Sword based on gang activity, shootings, and extremely violent behavior occurring at the club.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Felony Drug Unit obtained a conviction against a Gangster Disciple gang member for human trafficking. Roger Ernest McClain, Jr., 26, was convicted of Trafficking for Commercial Sex. Under the terms of the plea agreement, McClain was sentenced to ten years in prison.

Prosecutors in District Attorney General Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit obtained a conviction today against a man who has fifteen prior felony convictions. Terry Huck Trammell, 43, was convicted by a jury of Theft. Because Trammell is classified as a Career Offender, the only possible sentence is the maximum for a Class D felony, twelve years in prison.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit obtained convictions today against a member of the Aryan Nation for firearm and property offenses. Tyler Michael Higginbotham, 24, was convicted of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Burglary, and two counts of Theft. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Higginbotham’s sentence was enhanced because of his gang membership, and he will serve sixteen years in prison.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit obtained convictions for multiple robberies against a career criminal who was on parole for multiple robberies out of Davidson and Sumner Counties. Timothy W. Kelly, 42, was convicted of two counts of Aggravated Robbery, Attempted Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Assault, and Evading Arrest. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Kelly will serve thirty years in prison without the possibility of parole.

Prosecutors in District Attorney General Charme Allen’s Child Abuse Unit obtained convictions today against a man who molested an eleven-year-old child. William Edward Varnado, 46, pled guilty to two counts of Aggravated Sexual Battery, Statutory Rape by an Authority Figure, and Sexual Battery by an Authority Figure. Varnado received a sentence of twelve years to serve in prison without the possibility of parole.

Prosecutors in District Attorney General Charme Allen’s office obtained convictions today against a career criminal with eight prior felony convictions who stole from a local church. Walter Keith Isbell, 50, was convicted by a jury of two counts of felony Theft. Upon conviction, Judge Scott Green revoked Isbell’s bond and ordered him into custody.

A bus driver was convicted by prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Child Abuse Unit after she left a special needs student alone on her bus for nearly five hours. A jury spent less than an hour deliberating before finding Ginger Lee Doane, 41, guilty of Reckless Endangerment. Judge Steve Sword set the case for sentencing on May 5.

Prosecutors in District Attorney General Charme Allen’s office obtained convictions today against a man who fought with officers who were attempting to arrest him. Ernesto Delgadilo Rodriguez, 32, was convicted by a jury of Resisting Arrest and Assault. Judge Bob McGee set the case for sentencing on April 28.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Child Abuse Unit obtained a conviction today against a man who sexually abused a nine-year-old child. Rodney Dewayne Kitts, 44, pled guilty to Aggravated Sexual Battery and received a sentence of sixteen years in prison without the possibility of parole.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Major Crimes Unit obtained convictions today against a man who killed three people in a Knoxville homeless camp. Joshua H. Cool, 30, was convicted of two counts of First Degree Murder and one count of Criminally Negligent Homicide following a four-day trial. Upon return of the jury verdict, Judge Scott Green sentenced Cool to an automatic life sentence for each First Degree Murder count.

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Child Abuse Unit obtained a conviction today after a man secretly video-recorded a twelve-year-old girl before she got into the shower. Ruben Sanchez Montiel, 31, was convicted of Especially Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.

A gang member with six prior felony convictions, including a conviction for shooting at a police officer, was sentenced to forty years in prison without the possibility of parole after prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Felony Drug Unit obtained a felony cocaine conviction against him.

A Knox County man who distributed and possessed thousands of images of child pornography was sent to prison today after prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Child Abuse Unit obtained multiple convictions for various child pornography charges. Derrick Glenn Johnson, 29, pled guilty to Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Johnson will spend the next sixteen years in prison at one hundred percent.