Maryville woman indicted for aggravated arson
Grand jury returns 29 indictments, 11 sealed
By Jessica Stithof The Daily Times Staff
Originally published: June 02. 2009 3:01AM
Last modified: June 01. 2009 10:47PM
Among 18 true bills returned by a Blount County grand jury on Monday were a Maryville woman accused of setting fire to a house with a man inside, and a Maryville man accused of attacking Alcoa officers with his vehicle.
Tammy Marie Wilburn, 40, Marlin Street, Maryville, was indicted on a charge of aggravated arson. According to her indictment filed in Blount County Circuit Court, a grand jury found that Wilburn set fire to a residence on Jan. 28 at 4751 Old Niles Ferry Road.
According to earlier testimony at a preliminary hearing, Paul Edward "Eddie" Ledbetter, 45, said Wilburn, his cousin, came over to his residence to take a shower and later argued with another female outside of the house. He said he told them he was going to "call the law." After Wilburn returned to a bedroom inside of the residence, Ledbetter said he discovered a fire in the bedroom but could not find Wilburn.
While using a dog bowl to throw water on the fire, Ledbetter said he must have passed out and had to be rescued by firefighters from the burning residence.
A Blount County Sheriff's Office arson investigator testified that most of the fire damage was around a bedroom closet. He said that all electrical causes of fire were eliminated, and based on interviews, he charged Wilburn with setting the fire.
A grand jury also indicted Frank Delmar Raines Jr., 42, Marshall Street, Maryville, on charges of felony evading arrest and two counts of aggravated assault.
According to earlier information from the Alcoa Police Department, Officers Mike Devore and Dustin Cook were conducting a property check at the Harrison Street Park on Sept. 22, 2008, when they noticed a driver acting suspiciously. Cook and Devore identified themselves as police and asked to talk to him.
Devore reported that the man made eye contact with him and then "accelerated in reverse in an extremely reckless manner at a high rate of speed, causing the tires to squeal loudly." The officers repeatedly identified themselves as police, raising their badges and telling him to stop.
The officers said the driver "accelerated rapidly toward us with blatant disregard for our safety and used his vehicle as a weapon" against them.
Also indicted by a grand jury were:
Candice Boozer, 29, Mentor Road, Louisville, theft of property from Belk, 197 Foothills Mall Drive, Maryville, on June 26, 2008.
Coty Ray Cooper, 20, Clover Hill Mill Road, Maryville, theft of property on May 21, 2008, from Pure Pleasure Video, 4541 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Walland.
Lynn Brian Harkleroad, 40, Clendenen Road, Maryville, reckless endangerment from a Nov. 27, 2007, incident.
Amber Leigh Holbrook, 28, Knoxville, introduction of contraband into a penal institution and possession of drug paraphernalia on April 14.
Jason F. Jenkins, 31, Grant Street, Alcoa, violating the Habitual Motor Offender Act on June 24, 2008.
Corey Lane Knouff, 21, Ridge Road, Maryville, burglary, theft and vandalism on Feb. 19, 2008, at Friendsville Market, 108 Endsley Quarry Lane, Friendsville.
Adelbert Leeroy Luallen, 58, Arabian Lane, Maryville, driving under the influence of an intoxicant on July 24, 2008.
Robert Lamont Martin, 34, TVA Lab Road, Louisville, public intoxication and assault from a Sept. 25, 2008, incident.
Ralph Edward McCoy, 41, McGhee Road, Greenback, violating of the Habitual Motor Offender Act on Dec. 9, 2008.
Matthew Dwayne McKeehan, 28, Wrights Ferry Road, Louisville, aggravated burglary and evading arrest on Sept. 14, 2008, and forgery on Sept. 5, 2008.
Jeffrey Dewayne Penson, 26, Meadowland Lane, Louisville, aggravated burglary and aggravated assault, by use of a handgun, on March 6 at a Meadowland Lane residence.
Charles Wayne Richardson, 44, North Sixth Street, Maryville, theft under $500 on Sept. 3, 2007, from Wal-Mart, 1030 Hunters Crossing Drive, and vandalism over $500 and public intoxication on Sept. 4, 2007.
Martin Randall Stone, 47, Wellington Lane, Louisville, driving under the influence of an intoxicant on June 20, 2008.
William J. Vandyke, 26, Tarbett Road, Rockford, robbery. According to the indictment, Vandyke was accused of using a crowbar as a weapon while stealing a purse from a woman on Nov. 22, 2008.
The grand jury also returned 11 sealed indictments.
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