By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
Kimberly Blevins was scheduled for sentencing on Monday on charges that included two counts of sodomy in the third degree for “having deviant sexual intercourse with another 16 or 17 years of age” while being ten or more years older than the victim and four counts of sexual abuse in the first degree, “by having sexual contact with a male less than 18 years of age by forcible compulsion.”
However, the family of the victim from that 2021 incident – Blevins was indicted in April of 2022 and arrested in June of the same year – was not present in the courtroom to agree to the sentencing deal.
Commonwealth attorney Brandon Ison said that he and Robert Miller, the attorney for Blevins, have reached an agreement that should meet all of the family’s concerns, but that they would need to confirm some details before proceeding.
Judge Rebecca Phillips also reminded Miller that the family was not ordered or required by law to be present, but that his client was, and that any arbitration or agreement was dependent on the cooperation of the family.
Phillips rescheduled the sentencing for two weeks out, on Monday, August 19, at 3:30 p.m.
In other related news, Phillips accepted a change of plea plan for Noah Miller on charges of sexual abuse in the first degree, victim under 12 years of age. Miller is expected to enter that change of plea on Friday.
Charles Wayne Reynolds also appeared before the judge and had a pretrial date set for September 16 at 2 p.m. on his charge of first degree sexual abuse of a victim under 12 years of age.
According to public records Reynolds has a previous charge of sexual abuse of a victim under 12 years of age stemming from a 2003 incident. He received five years of diversion after entering a plea on that charge according to court records provided by individuals with knowledge of the 2003 case.
The judge also set a date of September 3 to hear further arguments in two cases against Freddy Sexton, including details of a competency hearing to determine if Sexton is competent to stand trial. Sexton was indicted in November of 2021 on charges including four counts of sodomy in the third degree for deviant sexual intercourse with a minor under the age of 12, and two counts of sexual abuse first degree by subjecting a person less than 12 to sexual contact.
Sexton (spelled Freddie in the second indictment) was indicted again in February of 2022 on ten counts of first degree sexual abuse, by having contact with a child under the age of twelve. If he has been found competent to stand trial at that time the case will proceed. Next steps if he is found incapable of comprehending or defending himself of the charges against him remain to be seen.
In the sexual abuse case against Johnny Tolliver, attorney Robert Miller told the judge that he believes he may be able to reach a deal with the Commonwealth by the time of Tolliver’s next pretrial date on August 19. Tolliver was arrested in July of last year on charges that included 16 counts of using a minor under the age of 16 in a sexual performance, 15 counts of first degree sexual abuse with a victim under the age of 12, three counts of first degree sexual abuse, 16 counts of possessing matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under the age of 12.
In other action Dylan Evans has requested a jury trial in his case that includes multiple charges of wanton endangerment first degree against police officers, as well as fleeing or evading, terroristic threatening, wanton endangerment, resisting arrest, menacing, public intoxication, and burglary. Evans attorney has requested 911 records, body camera footage from officers involved in the incident, and use of force reports. Phillips scheduled Evans case for December 10 on a second case status and December 17 with first case status.
Christopher Carpenter had motions on his case, which includes two counts of attempted murder of a police officer, reset to September 10.
Tristan Mitchell’s attorney advised Phillips that all discovery has now been provided, but they struggled to find a date before the turn of the new year where Mitchell could be provided with first case status. While Mitchell has requested a speedy trial, Phillips advised that there were other cases also waiting to be heard ahead of Mitchell. She offered his attorney third case status on December 10, with expectations that the other two cases scheduled for that day might be resolved before going to trial.
The judge also accepted not guilty pleas and scheduled further hearings in several other cases related to drug possession, DUIs, burglary, and other non-violent crimes.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
