A Cumberland County man held under $1 million bond since his arrest Jan. 7 on a two-count indictment charging continuous sexual abuse of a child and statutory rape by an authority figure entered a guilty plea in the case last Tuesday.
Dustin Michael Balch, 41, Hwy. 70 North — who has ties to Fentress County — pleaded guilty to statutory rape by an authority figure, a Class B felony, and received an eight-year prison sentence to be served at 100%.
By law, that charge carries a three- to 15-year sentence. The continuous sexual abuse of a minor charge was dropped, and fine and court costs were waived.
Balch is to register on the sex offender registry for life.
In January, the Cumberland County Grand Jury indicted Balch on the charges occurring between July 5-6, 2024, involving a victim believed to be in her early teens.
The continuous sexual abuse charge is believed to have occurred between August 2021-July 6, 2024.
Balch is being given credit for the 175 days he has served in jail since his arrest.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Randal Gilliam and defended by Assistant Public Defender Laura Dykes.
In other cases on the docket, the following took place:
Set for trial
• Michael Ralph Daignault, second-degree murder and possession of less than .5 grams of fentanyl, trial set for Sept. 10-12.
• Danny Ellison Phillips Jr., possession of less than .5 grams of fentanyl, possession of a Schedule I drug with intent and possession of a Schedule IV drug with intent, motion hearing set for Aug. 5; trial set for Sept. 23.
Deadline
• Summer Nicole Dodson, possession of meth with intent, continued to Sept. 2.
• John Christopher Garland, aggravated assault and vandalism of $2,500 to $10,000, continued to Aug. 5.
• Jordon Andrew Griffis, home improvement fraud of $10,000 to $60,000, continued to Sept. 2.
• Roger Diamond Jackson Jr., possession of 26 grams of meth or more with intent, possession of a firearm during commission of a dangerous felony, simple possession and possession of drug paraphernalia, continued to Aug. 5.
• Douglas Willard McCallister, aggravated assault and attempted especially aggravated kidnapping, continued to Sept. 2.
• Tony Rasso, possession of meth with intent and possession of a weapon by a felon, continued to Aug. 5.
• Troy Lee Rice, aggravated burglary and theft of property of $2,500 to $10,000, continued to Aug. 5.
• Shannon Michelle Richardson, aggravated burglary and theft of property of $2,500 to $10,000, continued to Aug. 5.
Motion/hearings
• Jimmy Luther Bowman Jr., two counts of possession of .5 grams of fentanyl or more, two counts of possession of meth with intent, possession of less than .5 grams of fentanyl, possession of a Schedule I drug with intent, introducing contraband into a penal institution and driving on a suspended license, hearing to reduce $442,000 bond continued to Sept. 2.
• David Michael Murrow, sexual battery by an authority figure, statutory rape by an authority figure, sexual exploitation of a minor, engaging minor in sexual or simulated sex acts, continuous sexual abuse of a child, incest and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, motion hearing set for Aug. 5.
• Warren John Nordstrom, two counts of first-degree murder, petition for postconviction relief hearing continued to Aug. 5.
• Christopher Dean Thomas, fifth offense DUI, DUI per se and second offense driving on a revoked license, motion for new trial continued to Aug. 5.
• William Franklin Walsh, petition for post conviction relief from his guilty plea to two counts of aggravated assault relating to two pedestrians being struck by a vehicle when Walsh fled from an altercation at a Crossville night spot, continued to Aug. 5. Walsh pleaded guilty and received two six-year sentences.
• Charles Christopher White, tampering with evidence, violation of the sex offender registry and two counts of DUI, sentencing hearing on how a six-year Range 1 offender sentence will be served continued to Sept. 2.
Probation violations
• Cody Allen Dickenson, probation violation hearing continued to July 15.
• Grayson Cole Earhart, probation violation warrant dismissed.
• Theodore Charles Hefner, pleaded guilty to a probation violation and is to serve 90 days in jail at 75% after which Hefner will be reinstated back on probation.
• Gerardo Nino Torres, pleaded guilty to failing to submit to a mandatory drug test and is to serve six days in jail and then be reinstated back on probation.
• William Eric Whited, Public Defender’s Office appointed to represent Whited and probation violation hearing continued to July 15.