Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Jefferson County Circuit Court
A New Market woman charged with First-Degree Murder and Aggravated Child Abuse, has had a bond set in Jefferson County Circuit Court. Danielle Autumn Cutshall, 31, Indian Cave Road, was indicted in August in connection with the May 24 death of Nicolae Hensley, a three year-old New Market toddler. Cutshall was being held without bond, but on Monday, Public Defender Ed Miller asked Judge Duane Slone to set bond at $50,000," because the proof likely will not lead to a conviction for this lady." He argued that Cutshall has lived in Jefferson County for a long time, with minimal previous convictions. But Asst. District Attorney Ron Newcomb argued the proof in the case "is strong." He pointed out that Cutshall was in custody of the child. The prosecutor also told the court that the defendants had a flight plan but it was not acted upon. So Newcomb argued for a bond of $150,000. Judge Slone set bond at $100,000, ordering that Cutshall may not be alone with any minor child except her own. She also may not travel more than 100 miles outside of Jefferson County. Investigators say an autopsy showed that the victim died from blunt force trauma to the head and so the child's death was ruled a homicide. They also say the investigation showed that Cutshall lived at the residence and had used blunt force to the head of the child causing his death. Derrick Donavan Hensley, 24, the father of Nicolae is charged with Aggravated Child Abuse/Neglect/Endangerment. Brittaney Barbee, 31, mother of the child is charged with Child Abuse and Neglect. A trial in the case is set for May 2019. The court also accepted a guilty plea in the case of Charles Brackins, 76, Southwind Circle, Dandridge, to a charge of Attempted Aggravated Sexual Battery. Asst. DA Brett Bell said the charges stem from fondling incidents in 2015 involving a six year-old female. The defendant addressed the victim who was in the courtroom saying, "I apologize for what happened and maybe someday everything will be alright." And Brackins told the girl," it's not your fault." The court imposed a ten-year sentence but released Brackins on the time he has served, and the balance will be on supervised probation. Under the plea agreement, Brackins also will register as a sex offender, have no contact with the victim and will be under community supervision for life. Judge Slone also recused himself in the case of Breanna Cervino,36, Dandridge, a former caseworker with the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. Cervino is charged with two counts of Official Oppression, three counts of Official Misconduct, one count of Filing a False Report and one count of Falsifying a Government Record. The allegations stem from a child abuse case assigned to Cervino, which resulted in children being removed from a home. Investigators allege that Cervino filed false reports during the investigation. In addition, Cervino is also facing a charge of Filing a False Report in Sevier County.


Return to Today's News Stories - Front Page

Thursday, April 29, 2021

  • US 411 Project News
  • Mill Creek Wildfire Update
  • More Bad News For Smokies' Fans

    Wednesday, April 28, 2021

  • Mill Creek Wildfire doubles in size
  • Goodbye Smokies?
  • Keep Cocke County Beautiful
  • Cocke Co. High School Remote Learning today!

    Tuesday, April 27, 2021

  • The fireflies are coming!
  • Burnout Operations on MillCreek wildfire today
  • Gas prices drop
  • Tennessee keeps all US House seats

    Monday, April 26, 2021

  • Boat accident victim ID'd
  • Traffic stop yields drug arrest
  • Cocke County Wildfires

    Friday, April 23, 2021

  • Leaving WNPC
  • Mathis announces candidacy
  • Newport drug roundup
  • Cruise Against Cancer
  • Jobless numbers