Numerous indictments were handed by the grand jury Monday for charges relating to financial exploitation, evading arrest, theft of property and services, and assault.
Joseph Bergner of Lawing Road in Chuckey was charged with financial exploitation of an elderly or a vulnerable adult on January 1, 2021. According to the indictment, he took on the caretaker role without consent with intent to benefit himself or an accomplice, which is a class B felony. He committed the offense or was a party to said offense, by obtaining property more than $10,000 belonging to a family member.
Nicholas Edward Smith of the Horton Highway was given multiple charges including possession of Methamphetamine with intent to sell or deliver on August 20, 2022. Smith had more than 26 grams of Meth, a schedule two substance. That same day he was charged with evading arrest when he fled from the Greeneville Police.
Nicolas Buckner of Kitchen Branch Road in Greeneville had one count of evading arrest after fleeing from law enforcement during a theft investigation on or around October 15, 2022. According to the indictment, Buckner committed the offense theft of property over $60,000 when he took control over an international truck belonging to Millers industries without consent.
Clark Shelton of Guinn Drive in Greeneville was given two counts of home-improvement services fraud. Between January 1, 2022 And May 31, 2022 Shelton reportedly deviated from plans contained in a contract causing damage to the clients property with intent to defraud them. The construction done was less than the value that was agreed upon. He also deviated from plans in a contract with a client in 2022.
Shelton was additionally charged for theft of services greater than $10,000 in 2021. The indictment states he intentionally obtained services by deception, fraud, and false pretense and avoided payment for services worth more than $10,000 in home improvements.
William Leftwich of Duck Drive in Greeneville was indicted for domestic assault for causing fear of bodily injury To the victim on December 11, 2022 and charged with aggravated assault for causing injury to another woman that same day, the assault being strangulation.
Bethany Barksdale of Marcella Drive in Mosheim was charged with aggravated assault for causing fear of bodily injury to a man by displaying a gun on January of this year. Jessica Brooke Mentzell of West Allen’s Bridge Road was given two counts of aggravated assault, fear of bodily injury and recklessly using a firearm to cause bodily injury in 2022. Mentzell was also given one count of reckless endangerment on September of 2022 for recklessly discharging a firearm into an occupied habitation.
