By Karen Hall

Editor

A Lewisburg man who pleaded guilty to multiple charges was sentenced to a total of seven and one-half years in prison.

After a domestic incident on Feb. 17, Benjamin Franklin Dees, 32, of Yell Road, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a prohibited weapon, in this case a 20 gauge "short barrel shotgun."

Dees was also charged with failure to appear, because he missed a General Sessions Court date in April. His criminal record dates back to 1999, when he was convicted of "possession/manufacture/sale of a dangerous weapon" in San Bernadino County, Calif.

Judge Lee Russell sentenced Dees to five years on the aggravated assault, and one year on possession charge, plus 18 months on the failure to appear charge, all to be served one after the other, for a total effective sentence of seven and one-half years. Dees must serve 30 percent of his sentence before being eligible for a parole board hearing.

Russell also ordered Dees to forfeit his weapons and ammunition, and recommended an "expedited" transfer to the Tennessee Department of Corrections, though at press time he was still housed in Marshall County Jail.

Raynona Lynn Boyd, 34, of Silver Creek Road, pleaded guilty to drug charges, including sale and delivery of morphine tablets, and possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana. Russell sentenced her to a total of six years in prison, of which she must serve 30 percent before being eligible for a parole board hearing. Boyd was also fined $4,000. She had 157 days of jail credit when she was sentenced.

Terrance L. Winborn, 36, of Gadsden, Ala. made a "best interest" plea of guilty.

According to documents in his case file, Winborn tried to cash a check for $2,895.23 from Trigreen Equipment of Athens, Ala. at First Farmers & Merchants Bank here on June 12. He told the teller it was his pay check for his work for Trigreen as a welder, but the check was a forgery, printed from a home computer. In response to the defense attorney's request for discovery, Assistant District Attorney Bud Bottoms stated Winborn refused to give a written statement, and also named three other people who were involved in the crime with him, though they have not been indicted yet.

Russell gave Winborn an effective sentence of three years, of which he must serve 30 percent before being eligible for a parole board hearing.