Press Releases

Child Molester Sentenced to Sixteen Years

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.

Homeless Man Convicted in Triple Homicide

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.

Child Pornographer Sent to Prison

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.

Vice Lords Gang Member Sentenced to a Total of Forty Years in Prison

Knox County gang member was sentenced to a total of forty years in prison today after being prosecuted by members of DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit. In a trial last month, Ronald James Turner, 19, was convicted of three counts of Attempted Second Degree Murder, three counts of Employing a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony, and three counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

Impaired Driver Convicted of Second Vehicular Assault

For the second time, prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s DUI Unit convicted Jason Cleve Watts, 36, of Vehicular Assault after his impaired driving seriously injured another motorist. In a plea hearing today, Watts received a sentence of eight-years in prison stacked on top of a four-year sentence for a 2010 Vehicular Assault conviction.

Another Drunk Driver Convicted at Trial

District Attorney Charme Allen’s DUI Unit prevailed at trial again this week against a driver so intoxicated that he had to pull his vehicle over to the side of the road before he became ill. Jeffrey Douglas Gwinn, 32, was convicted of Driving Under the Influence First Offense.

Repeat Drunk Driver Convicted by Jury

DUI prosecutors in General Charme Allen’s office obtained a conviction yesterday in a case against a man who crashed his vehicle into a parked car while intoxicated. A Knox County jury convicted Jeremy Ledyard Nathan, 37, of Driving Under the Influence Third Offense.

First-Time Drunk Driver Ordered into Custody upon Conviction

Coming one day after a DUI trial conviction in a separate case, prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s DUI Unit obtained another conviction against a drunk driver. Anthony Moulden, 60, was convicted by a jury of Driving Under the Influence First Offense. Judge Steve Sword revoked Moulden’s bond and ordered him into custody following the conviction.

Murder Defendant Convicted and Sentence to Life without Parole

A Knox County jury found a defendant guilty-as-charged following a week-long trial prosecuted by DA Charme Allen’s Major Crimes Unit. Jeffery Willard Wooten, 51, was convicted of First Degree Murder, Especially Aggravated Burglary, Especially Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Robbery, Attempted Especially Aggravated Kidnapping, Carjacking, Evading Arrest, Employing a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony, Aggravated Burglary, and Theft.

Gangster Disciple Convicted of Gun Charge

A Knox County gang member was convicted today of firearm and evading arrest charges after being prosecuted by members of DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit. Julian Isiah Jackson, 26, was convicted by a jury of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Violent Felon and Evading Arrest. Jackson was also found to be a member for the Gangster Disciple criminal street gang.

Career DUI Offender Convicted of Felony DUI

DA Charme Allen’s DUI Unit secured a conviction against Pascasio Martinez, 50, for Driving Under the Influence 4th or Subsequent Offense. At trial, Assistant District Attorneys Joe Welker & Heather Good explained to the jury that at 3am on August 9, 2014, Martinez drove on Chapman Highway into Downtown Knoxville without using his headlights. KPD Officers Cardin and Mays stopped Martinez’s vehicle and noted Martinez exhibited clear signs of intoxication. Martinez failed field sobriety tests and admitted drinking at a local bar prior to driving.