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Cocke Circuit Court pleas
A number of defendants entered guilty pleas Tuesday before Judge Carter Moore in Cocke County Circuit Court. John Shehee,28, Rock Hill Road, Newport and John Mark Speir,38, Pigeon Forge, were among six inmates who escaped the Cocke County jail on Christmas Day, 2016. Cocke County Sheriff Armando Fontes said the inmates fled after removing a commode from their cell. "Apparently the bolts holding the unit rusted out, in addition, there was prior damage to the concrete due to plumbing repairs," the sheriff explained. The sheriff said the inmates vandalized the commode and removed it from the wall to gain access to a hole which led outside of the facility." All were captured within several days. Shehee pleaded guilty to escape, conspiracy to commit escape, vandalism, and other charges. After being recaptured, Shehee set paper on fire in his cell leading to the vandalism charge. He received a six-year term, was released on time served and the balance will be served on supervised probation. Shehee also will undergo a mental and, alcohol and drug evaluation. Speir after being arrested following the escape, assaulted another inmate in the jail. He has recently been in a long term drug rehabilitation program and on Tuesday was ordered to return to that program. Speir and the other inmates involved in the jail assault also will pay restitution for the medical costs involved. Ricky James Bennefield, 53, Georgia, pleaded guilty to rape and incest charges. The offenses occurred between October and November, 2008, in Cocke County but Bennefield was not indicted till April of this year. Judge Moore imposed a five-year sentence to be served concurrently with similar Sevier County charges. Donald Eugene Busler,31, Orchard View Road, Newport pleaded guilty to Child Abuse/Neglect/Endangerment. He was given an 11 month 29 day sentence and fined $1,000. Terry Whitten, 59, Navaho Drive, New[port, pleaded guilty to willful physical abuse/gross negligence of an individual 60 years or older. He lived with his mother, 79 year-old Zella Mae Whitten, and was responsible for caring for her. Mrs. Whitten told police she was beaten over the head with a cane on May 17, and the defendant was subsequently arrested. He was given a four year sentence, suspended to time he has served with the balance on supervised probation. A charge of aggravated assault was dismissed in the plea agreement. Sherry Ann Ellison, 38, Bluebird Lane, White Pine, charged with three counts of TennCare fraud in July and August, 2015, was placed on five years probation and ordered to make restitution of $2,034. She obtained prescription meds but didn't tell providers that she had obtained similar prescriptions from other providers, according to Asst. DA Joanne Sheldon.
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