Felon Convicted of Brandishing Handgun Sentenced to Twenty Years

DA Charme Allen announces that prosecutors in the Career Gang Unit obtained a twenty-year-sentence against a gang member and convicted felon who brandished a handgun and threatened to shoot a woman.  Demetruice Sentell Bennett, 34, was convicted of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Assault, and Evading Arrest.  Judge Steve Sword sentenced Bennett to twenty years to serve in the Tennessee Department of Correction without the possibility of parole.

In a two-day trial in August, Assistant District Attorneys Larry Dillon and Robert DeBusk explained to the jury that on September 16, 2021, multiple callers reported that Bennett was brandishing a handgun toward women and children near the intersection of McConnell Street and Lee Williams Avenue.  Knoxville Police Department Officer Austin Jordan and other officers responded to the area and located the victim who said Bennett was walking around the area holding a handgun with an extended magazine.  When the victim asked Bennett why he pulled a gun out, Bennett began arguing and threatened to shoot the victim.  Bennett then left the area.  Two days later, as officers were looking for Bennett, they saw him run out of his grandmother’s house, and he was arrested after a foot pursuit.

“We pursue gun cases against gang offenders and convicted felons in the hope that aggressive prosecution may help prevent violent crimes from being committed by these armed criminals in the future,” said DA Allen.

Bennett is currently serving a ten-year sentence in prison for a prior robbery conviction.  He also has prior convictions for selling cocaine, selling marijuana, and unlawfully possessing a handgun.  Bennett has also been identified as a member of the Vice Lords criminal gang.  Assistant Victim Witness Coordinator Madison McCroskey aided in the prosecution of this case.

If you have any questions, please contact Sean McDermott at 865-215-2515 or Sean.McDermott@knoxcounty.org. For more information about the District Attorney’s Office, visit our website at dag.knoxcountytn.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.