It’s called the Behavioral Care Center, and it’s the new state of the art, cutting edge approach to taking individuals with mental health issues out of the jail populations and into a facility where they can truly receive the help they need. The innovative approach is because of the teamwork of Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk and Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall. The BCC is run by Sheriff Hall and located in a separate wing of the new downtown detention center, but supervised by the Mental Health Co-Op. Guards in the BCC are dressed like health care professionals, and those receiving treatment are referred to as ‘clients’ instead of inmates. Upon completion of the BCC treatment and counseling, charges are dismissed and individuals are discharged with a 30 day supply of medication and follow-up counseling. The unique program is receiving national attention as a key component to criminal justice reform while also assisting those with mental health concerns to once again become productive members of our community.

Congratulations to Assistant District Attorneys Jenny Charles, Jeff George and Bud Baker for the successful December 2021 prosecution of a man accused of shooting at Metro Police officers in early 2020.    33-year-old Bryan Bowser was convicted on two counts of aggravated assault for firing shots without warning at the Midtown Hills Precinct officers along Music Row.   Bowser was seen running into a building, and moments later, shooting at the officers.  The Swat Team eventually arrested the suspect who was found to have three firearms and more than 700 rounds of ammunition stored in the building.   General Charles and her team secured a quick verdict, with General Charles stating that Generals George and Baker did an outstanding job from jury selection to closing arguments.

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2020/01/06/nashville-police-man-fired-fired-shots-at-officers-in-music-row/2826194001/

 

 

Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk believes the severe sanction of incarceration should be primarily reserved for violent offenders. Through innovations such as Steering Clear, criminal justice reform measures, and new policies like ending prosecution of less than half ounce of Marijuana, the daily population of locally incarcerated inmates fell from 3,151 per day in 2013 to less than 1,500 today. That is a savings to Nashville taxpayers of $155,000 per day and a yearly savings of more than 50 million dollars.

Congratulations to Assistant District Attorneys Ed Ryan and Mindy Vinecore as they were honored at the annual Tennessee Narcotics Officers Association in Chattanooga this fall. Generals Ryan and Vinecore were recognized as top prosecutors in Tennessee in the war against drugs and the continued crackdown on drug suppliers resulting in overdoses.

RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT PLUS WELCOME TO TWO NEW ADA’S

We are sad to report that after 5 years of service, Robert Jones will be retiring at the end of September.  Robert served in the Shelby County Public Defender’s office (Memphis) for most of his career, and as the Chief Public Defender in Shelby County from 2004-2012.

During his time in this office, he served as the head of the Crimes Against Children Unit before founding the Conviction Review Unit. We are grateful for his service, not only to the citizens of Nashville, but to the people of Tennessee.

 

Sunny Eaton will be joining the office on September 1 and taking over the Conviction Review Unit.  Sunny has great judgement and a deep understanding of criminal justice issues.  Sunny will be a great benefit to the office and the CRU.

 

 

 

 

Finally, after 4 years of recruiting, Chicoya Gallman joined our office on August 1.  Chicoya is a UT alum and Belmont Law School graduate who has been working in private practice.  Since Chicoya interned here when she was in law school, many of us already know Chicoya and we are so excited that she decided to become an ADA.

Johnthony Walker has pleaded guilty to aggravated statutory rape, Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk said on Thursday, September 3rd, 2020.  Walker, who was previously convicted in a 2016 Hamilton County school bus crash that killed six children, will serve an additional six years in prison once he has completed his four-year sentence for criminally negligent homicide.  Metro police said in 2018 Walker admitted to having sex with a 14-year-old on five occasions. He had been staying with the victim’s family while his Hamilton County conviction was being appealed.  The judge in Walker’s case allowed him to be out on bond during the appeal process and encouraged him to stay outside of Chattanooga after he received death threats.  Once he was charged with aggravated statutory rape, a motion was filed in Hamilton County to revoke his bond.  In addition to the jail time, Walker must file as a registered sex offender.

CONGRATULATIONS to Assistant District Attorney Kate Boston Melby, Criminal Court Division I Team Leader Wesley King, and their team for a recent DOUBLE HOMICIDE CONVICTION.
On March 2nd of this year, 38-year-old Marcus Perry was found guilty for the murders of 21-year-old John T. Morrow and 38-year-old Abdinasir Jimale. It took the jury only 1.5 hours to convict Perry of gunning down the 21-year-old Morrow at Club Kilimanjaro on September 25th of 2016 following an argument. Morrow was celebrating his 21st birthday when the shooting occurred, and Jimale was a bystander at the club. Club Kilimanjaro, which had a history of violence and complaints, was padlocked and demolished shortly after the murders.
This was ADA Kate Boston Melby’s first First-Chair Murder Trial, and a double homicide at that. As Team Leader General Wesley King said in a memo to Kate (and copied to Nashville District Attorney General Glenn Funk): “Double murders don’t come around very often. The prosecution through jury trial of these types of cases is extremely rare … (Kate) not only shepherded the case through jury trial, but obtained convictions on the indicted offenses…..
• 1st degree premeditated murder for the death of John T. Morrow
• 1st degree premeditated murder for the death of Abdinasir Jimale
• 1st degree felony murder for the death of Abdinasir Jimale in the process of killing/attempting to kill John Morrow
• Felon in possession of a weapon
An automatic life sentence of 60 years behind bars was imposed for each victim.
Team Leader Wesley King added this about Kate Boston Melby and her courtroom skills: “This was a major achievement and I just want you to know how lucky the people of the community are to have such an able advocate.”
ADA Melby credits a fantastic team of professionals, including Division I Team Leader General Wesley King for his guidance, Metro Nashville Police Detectives Melody Saxon, Chad Gish, and Chad High, (and Det. Jason Moyer for last minute video work) along with District Attorney Investigator Randy Martin, Victim Witness Coordinator Cathy Harrison, and District Attorney Audio Specialist Terry Faimon, and Carina Estera for transcribing the transcripts. She also credits brave civilian witnesses who came to court and were willing to testify, despite being scared.
When law enforcement agencies and the community come together, justice is served, our city is safer, and victim’s families can begin the healing process.

It’s been almost five years since the news of a sexual assault on the Vanderbilt campus rocked Nashville.   Four football players were identified as suspects and charged.   Three were convicted, and last week, the final suspect, Jaborian ‘Tip’ Mackenzie admitted his guilt and entered a plea agreement.  Deputy DA Roger Moore and ADA Jan Norman stressed to the media how courageous and brave the victim in this case has been.  Here are links to the local media covering the plea agreement on May 21st.

http://www.wsmv.com/clip/14364732/4th-co-defendant-in-vanderbilt-rape-case-accepts-plea-deal.

https://www.newschannel5.com/news/final-defendant-in-vanderbilt-rape-case-expected-in-court

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/05/21/vanderbilt-rape-case-final-defendant-jaborian-tip-mckenzie-agrees-plea-deal/623957002/

Defendant Shandejah Stone was found guilty of assault last week after a Facebook feud amongst former best friends led to one attacking the other in a local daycare parking lot.  The victim was slung to the ground, beaten and kicked in the face. The facts show that the defendant continued to brag about her beating on facebook after being arrested.  Assistant District Attorney Vince Wyatt spelled it all out for the jury in Criminal Court Division VI, but says this case would not have been a success if not for everyone’s involvement!   ADA Wyatt credits Victim Witness Coordinator Brittany LaDuke for fantastic witness coordinating,  investigator Steve Turner for tracking down an uncooperative eyewitness, and summer intern Luis Casas for legal research and tracking down an additional facebook video of the incident posted by the defendant.  Total team effort!