Court briefs

Lower bond denied in slaying

A man charged in a fatal shooting in Chattanooga two weeks ago will not receive a lower bond, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Devante "White Chalk" Stoudemire, 18, faces charges of criminal homicide in the death of JaMichael Richardson, and his bond will remain $350,000.

Witnesses told police that Stoudemire shot Richardson in the back of the head after what appeared to be a calm conversation in Richardson's front lawn at 4800 Pawnee Trail.

Not long after arriving on Pawnee Trail, police responded to gunfire at two other locations only a few blocks away. All suspects and witnesses in the shootings are confirmed gang members, police said.

Stoudemire's court appearance created a big stir Tuesday. Hamilton County Sessions Court Judge Christie Mahn Sell screamed at several of Stoudemire's friends when they said "love you bro" and made signs as he was being taken out of the courtroom in handcuffs.

"We are not yelling across the court," Sell said. "This isn't the mall or a movie theater. ... You are going to sit here till court adjourns."

Two of the men were taken into custody by courtroom officers but were released when court was dismissed.

Stoudemire's next court date is Dec. 14.


Doctor charged over prescriptions

A Copperhill, Tenn., physician who faces federal charges for illegally prescribing drugs entered a plea of not guilty this week.

Dr. Richard Alder, 69, was released pending his trial next February in Chattanooga but is not allowed to practice medicine, according to a release by from the U.S. attorney's office in Knoxville.

The 85-count indictment alleges that Adler dispensed OxyContin, Hydrocodone, Methadone and Endocet outside the scope of his professional practice and two of his patients died from these illegal prescriptions.

The charges against Adler are the result of an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Upcoming Events