Professional Criminal Sentenced to Thirty Years for Home Burglaries

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit obtained a thirty-year sentence against a career offender with over thirty prior felony convictions. Lawrence Dewaine Schumaker, 37, was convicted of eight cases of Aggravated Burglary. Judge Steve Sword sentenced Schumaker to serve thirty years in prison.

At trial last October, Assistant District Attorney Phil Morton explained to the jury that on August 31, 2015, Schumaker broke into a home in West Hills and stole $5000 worth of jewelry, DVDs, electronics, and a mountain bike. After being convicted of that offense, Schumaker pled guilty to seven more break-ins at various homes throughout west Knoxville where he stole tens of thousands of dollars in jewelry, televisions, video game systems, firearms, and other items. The Property Units of both the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and the Knoxville Police Department investigated these home invasions.

“With this lengthy sentence, this prolific offender will no longer be able to victimize the citizens of our community,” said DA Charme Allen.

Schumaker’s criminal history dates back twenty years with the majority of his convictions out of Davidson, Loudon, and Rutherford counties. At the sentencing hearing today, prosecutors asked Judge Sword to find that Schumaker is a professional criminal with an extensive criminal history. The Court agreed and sentenced Schumaker to serve thirty years in the Tennessee Department of Correction.

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.