Press Releases

Gang Member Convicted of Human Trafficking

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.

Career Criminal with Fifteen Prior Felonies Convicted Again

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.

Aryan Nation Gang Member Sent to Prison on Gun Charge

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.

Multi-Convicted Robber Receives Thirty-Year Sentence

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.

Child Molester Pleads to Twelve-Year Sentence

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.

Career Offender Convicted of Theft from Local Church

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.