Busted pill ring said to source Roane

The sources for a Roane County pill ring have been charged in a 66-count federal indictment, which was unsealed on Sept. 11.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Faith Blake of Houston, Barbara Lang of Rossville, Ga., Charles Reed Larmore of Chattanooga and Dr. Jerome Arnold Sherard of Hixson conspired to illegally distribute oxycodone, methadone, morphine, Vicodin and Xanax.  

“They are also charged with maintaining drug-involved premises (pain clinics),” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release.

“Larmore and Sherard are also charged with specific distributions of controlled substances to certain patients.”

The defendants operated several pain clinics in the Chattanooga area. In June, 23 people from Roane County who used the clinics as sources for their prescription drugs were charged with drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracies.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said 18 people involved in that case have either pleaded guilty or signed plea agreements.

The remaining defendants are scheduled to go to trial next February.

****

Samuel Lee Cook, 25, has been charged with initiation of the process to manufacture methamphetamine.

According to a court affidavit, a Harriman police lieutenant observed him in possession of a clandestine meth lab at 805 Clifty St. on Sept. 11.

Cook is scheduled to appear in Roane County General Sessions Court next month.

****

A Harriman man charged with murder in Sevier County was sentenced last week.

According to The Mountain Press of Sevierville, Anthony Richards pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Sept. 11 and received a 20-year prison sentence.

The victim in the case, Derek Ogle, was found stabbed to death at Gatlinburg Town Square Resort on May 10, 2011.

“The family of Derek Ogle has suffered, and now hopefully they can have some peace in their lives,” The Mountain Press quoted Fourth Judicial District Attorney General Jimmy Dunn.

****

A Rockwood woman told police that a man carved letters into her skin.

Charles Grant Johnson, 42, is charged with aggravated domestic assault.

According to the arrest report, Rockwood officer Kendall Mitchell responded to a residence on Tennessee Avenue on Sept. 12 to investigate a domestic dispute in progress.

“Upon looking in the back door I saw victim, Jessica Darby, on her hands and knees in the floor with defendant, Mr. Johnson, standing over her,” the report said.

“Ms. Darby was bleeding from her mouth, both eyes were blackened and swollen shut.”

Darby told the officer that Johnson accused her of stealing.

“She also stated defendant threatened to kill her while assaulting her if she didn’t return the alleged items,” the report said.

The officer called for an ambulance for Darby and she was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.

“While speaking to victim, I did notice fresh cut marks on her right upper arm in the shape of a H and W or M,” the report said. “Upon asking her how those got there, she stated the defendant had carved the letters into her skin.”

Johnson is scheduled to appear in Roane County General Sessions Court on Oct. 1.