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Franklin charged with carjacking
A Cocke County man has been charged with several offenses in connection with a December, 2019 carjacking incident in Newport as well as an April home invasion in Newport. Stephen Millspaugh of pigeon Forge told Deputy Zach Shelton on December 18, that he picked up two males and a female in Sevierville and gave them a ride to a convenience store on Old Highway 411. He went into the store and as he left, one of the males told him to turn onto Bridges Chapel Road at which time the male grabbed the gear shifter causing the 2003 Dodge to come to an abrupt stop, at which time he was ordered to leave the vehicle. The trio then fled in the auto. Millspaugh identified one of the passengers as Tommy Franklin, a resident of Sevier County. Deputy Shelton said Franklin had been arrested in July of last year for the theft of a vehicle, and at the time of the December incident was out of jail on bond for that theft. Millspaugh confirmed the photo of Franklin that was on file, matched the carjacker. Officer Shelton also learned that later the day of the Millspaugh theft, Sevier County authorities had pursued the stolen car and during the chase, Franklin crashed the auto. The 29 year-old Franklin, with a recent address of Jessica Way, Newport, was taken into custody at the scene and was jailed in Sevier County. On April 29, Christopher Whaley, of West Highway 25/70, Newport told Cocke County Deputy Joey Owings that he was seated at his desk when his front door was kicked open. He identified the home invaders as Franklin and Robert Ball,33 of Kodak. Whaley told investigators that the two men began beating him, and Ball, armed with a knife threatened to cut him. During the ensuing fight, the desk was destroyed at which time Franklin picked up a desk leg and struck Whaley on the head. As the victim lay on the floor, he says he was kicked and stomped by both assailants. Franklin recently was being held in the Cocke County Jail, and on Thursday was served with warrants charging him with carjacking, theft over $1,000, a capias and failure to appear for a court hearing in the Millspaugh incident. Both Franklin and Ball are charged with aggravated assault and vandalism over $500 in the Whaley home invasion. Franklin is being held without bond. Ball is being sought on the charges.
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Return to Today's News Stories - Front PageThursday, April 29, 2021
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