A retired Putnam County teacher living in Cumberland County has agreed to a two-year sentence to be served at 100% — with possibility of reduction to 85% — for possessing pornography depicting minors off the internet.
Michael Joe Phillips, 63, Cumberland Cove community, pleaded guilty Jan. 24 to sexual exploitation of a minor with sentencing hearing to be held to determine who the two-year sentence will be served.
In addition to the sentence, Phillips will be required to register on the sex offender registry. The second charge was dismissed in January.
A sentencing hearing was slated before Criminal Court Shawn Fry on July 16 by Assistant District Attorney Philip Hatch announced the state and defense attorney Cynthia Lyons of Cookeville had reached a pre-hearing agreement of serving the maximum two-year sentence.
In other cases, the following guilty pleas were entered:
• Peter Paul Barbara, 48, pleaded guilty to an information charging DUI and was fined $360, is to pay court costs, serve 48 hours in jail, loss of driving privileges for one year, to participate in a victim impact panel and placed on probation for 11 months 29 days.
The charge stems from a June 29, 2023, arrest.
• Russell Leo Brooks Jr., 46, charged with reckless endangerment, pleaded guilty to the charge and qualified for judicial diversion, setting aside the guilty plea for a one-year supervised probationary period. At the end of one year, if all terms and conditions of diversion are met, Brooks will be eligible to petition the court to have the charge removed from his record.
The charge stems from a March 6, 2023, arrest by Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office during a dispute on Grace Hill Dr. During which a shotgun was displayed.
• Bradley Dale Vaughn, 48, possession of a weapon by a felon, charged with evading arrest, simple possession of meth, DUI, reckless driving, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving on a revoked license, registration violation, no proof of insurance and with one case in boundover status, pleaded guilty to an information charging possession of more than .5 grams of meth with intent and felony evading arrest and received an eight-year prison sentence to be served at 30% as a Range I offender.
Vaughn was given credit for 304 days already served in jail and forfeits the weapon. Remaining charges were dropped.
The evading charge stems from an Aug. 5, 2021, arrest by CCSO and the possession charge stems from an Oct. 6, 2023, arrest by Tennessee Highway Patrol.
• Douglas Arthur Vickers, 54, charged with aggravated burglary, two counts of possession of a weapon by a felon, aggravated assault, two counts of violation of an order of protection, evading arrest, possession of a firearm during commission of a dangerous felony and simple possession, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon with prior violent felony conviction and received an eight-year sentence to serve at 85%.
Vickers is being given credit for 384 days served in jail with fine and court costs waived. Remaining charges were dropped.
The charge stems from a May 23, 2023, incident on Old Peavine Rd. during which a residence was entered with Vickers being armed.
• Cameron Michael Madewell, 23, pleaded guilty to an information charging of violation of the sex offender registry law and received a one-year suspended sentence to be served on supervised probation, with credit for 183 days served in jail. Fine and court costs were waived.
The charge stems from his failure to report a change in residency on Oct. 7, 2023.
• Blake Lee Howard Speck, 31, pleaded guilty to an information charging possession of more than .5 grams of meth with intent and received an eight-year suspended sentence with one year to serve in jail and the balance on supervised probation at 30% as a Range 1 offender. He is being given credit for 40 days served in jail. Court costs were waived and anything seized during the arrest forfeited.
The charge stems from a June 6 traffic stop on I-40 by CCSO during which the Simpsonville, SC., man was found in possession of meth.