Back to back DUI convictions

Joe Welker, ADA, in Knoxville had a busy couple of days. On Tuesday a jury convicted Jeremy Ledyard Nathan of DUI third offense. The driver had slammed into a parked vehicle after drinking vodka.
On Wednesday, another jury convicted Anthony Mulden, 60, of DUI first offense. He had a .17 blood alcohol level.
I'm sure Joe is not the only prosecutor in the State to convict two drivers in two days with two different jury trials, but it does not happen often. Congratulations Joe!

150 years for violent thug

I usually only write about traffic safety cases, but I saw a headline on the Channel 5 News site that caught my eye and wanted to share it.
Judge Cheryl Blackburn sentenced Perpetal Tutlam, 31, of Nashville to six consecutive twenty five year sentences for aggravated rape, especially aggravated kidnapping and especially aggravated robbery.totaling 150 years. The victims were strangers to this thug. They were beaten, stabbed repeatedly, robbed  and forced to perform sexual acts on one another.
We are fortunate to have law enforcement officers and prosecutors, who take on this evil and remove a person who commits such horrendous acts from society.
Read more at:
http://www.newschannel5.com/news/local-news/man-sentenced-to-150-years-in-prison

Kingsport Conviction

The impaired driver who killed former Tennessee Legislator Michael Locke has been convicted of vehicular homicide by intoxication. Congratulations to ADA's Leslie Tiller and Kent Chitwood for their efforts to seek justice in this case. 
The defendant, James Hamm Jr. was found guilty by a jury of: 
Vehicular Homicide by Intoxication, Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Death, Reckless Endangerment x 2, and DUI.
Read about it in the Kingsport Times News at:

http://www.timesnews.net/Local/2016/02/23/Driver-found-guilty-in-death-of-Kingsport-businessman.html?ci=stream&lp=10&p=

Double 8th offenses brings 6 year sentence

In Crossville Patricia Ann Cromer, 45, has pled guilty to two separate DUI 8th offense convictions. She was arrested for the two DUI's within four months of one another. In the second incident she had a child passenger as well as two adults.
On one occasion she ran into a utility pole and tried to leave, but was stopped by witnesses. Crossville officer Andrew King then placed her under arrest.
On the second occasion Deputy Jonathon Stout spotted the intoxicated driver in a parking lot on Lantana Road in physical control.
Cromer was also convicted for being an Habitual Traffic Offender and for child endangerment. District Attorney Bryant Dunaway handled the case for the State.

January is done

In January we lost 45 persons on our roadways. Last year that number was 71.

There were 8 persons lost in impaired driving cases. Alcohol was involved in seven deaths. Drugs were involved in five deaths. In four instances both alcohol and drugs were involved.

No impaired fatal crashes occurred after January 15th.

Tennessee men denied bond after Georgia chase, crash kills 2

Tennessee men denied bond after Georgia chase, crash kills 2: A judge is refusing bond for two Tennessee men jailed in Georgia after allegedly fleeing police and crashing into another vehicle, killing two people.