Johnny GholstonThe Tennessee Bureau of Investigation theft ring probe that last week landed the Whitwell police chief in jail now has led to charges against his mother, stepfather, a former Whitwell city manager and a man who allegedly stole property on the chief's behalf.
Jerry JonesThe four arrests on Friday bring the total to five so far in the investigation into a local theft ring involving stolen property, drugs and food stamps, and more arrests are pending, said Melydia Clewell, spokeswoman for Hamilton County District Attorney General Neal Pinkston's office.
Pinkston's office presented the case to the Marion County grand jury in Jasper last week, filling in for 12th Judicial District Attorney General Mike Taylor's office. Taylor's office stepped aside because it prosecutes Whitwell's cases.
Doris GholstonWhitwell police Chief James Rodney Easterly was jailed last Thursday on charges of conspiracy to commit theft, possession of a controlled substance for resale, conspiracy of possession of a Schedule III controlled substance, fraudulent receipt of food assistance, official misconduct, theft of property, coercion of a witness, tampering with or fabricating evidence, and possession of a firearm during the commission of attempt to commit a dangerous felony.
Easterly was freed on a $38,000 bond.
Stacy TerryThe charges stem from a joint investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Marion County Sheriff's Office over several months in 2016, according to the TBI and Pinkston's office in Chattanooga.
In addition to Easterly, Clewell and the TBI said those now arrested in the investigation include:
Easterly's mother, Doris Ann Gholston, 66, charged with criminal conspiracy to commit theft, fraudulent receipt of food assistance, conspiracy of possession of schedule III drugs, and possession of schedule III drugs for resale. Her bond was set at $27,000.
Easterly's stepfather, John Alfred Gholston, 56, charged with criminal conspiracy to commit theft. His bond was set at $6,500.
Alleged accomplice Jerry Jay Jones, 51, charged with theft of property, and criminal conspiracy to commit theft. His bond was set at $14,000.
Former Whitwell city manager Stacy Yolanda Terry, 53, charged with coercion of witness and official misconduct. Her bond was set at $10,000.
The Gholstons and Jones allegedly worked with Easterly in an agreement in which Jones and an unnamed man stole items then turned them over to the Gholstons and Easterly to distribute and sell, according to the indictments.
Authorities said Doris Gholston, along with Easterly and an unnamed person in the charge of conspiracy of possession of phendimetrazine for resale, had an agreement that one or more of them would obtain a prescription for the drug that was filled in Alabama, according to the indictments. Doris Gholston also was charged along with her police chief son with obtaining or attempting to obtain food assistance for which they did not qualify, records show.
Clewell said Monday via email that the charges of official misconduct and coercion of a witness leveled against Terry stem from allegations she told a Whitwell police officer that he could not cooperate with the TBI investigation and could respond only if he was subpoenaed to appear in court.
Meanwhile, more arrests are pending, Clewell said. When those arrests are made, more details about the investigation can be released, she said.
Marion County Jail and Circuit Court officials said all those charged are free on bond and face arraignments on June 23.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6569.