Sweetwater man charged with DUI

A Sweetwater man faces a DUI charge after his truck was found wrecked on a fence in Loudon County.

On Monday December 9, at approximately 6:13 p.m, Deputy Dakota Ezell with the Loudon County Sheriff ’s Office responded to Reed Springs Church Road for reports of a wreck.

Once Ezell arrived at the scene, he observed a wrecked pick-up truck and a damaged fence.

According to the report obtained by The News-Herald, Ezell made contact with the driver of the vehicle identified as 61-year-old Hoyt Jeffery Lefevers of Sweetwater. While speaking with Lefevers, Ezell reportedly detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person and observed an empty Twisted Tea can lying on the ground next to the suspect’s vehicle. Upon further investigation, Ezell observed several more Twisted Tea bottle caps inside the vehicle and another empty can of Twisted Tea on the passenger floorboard. Ezell asked Lefevers how much he had to drink and he stated he drank “one” Twisted Tea.

Ezell asked Lefevers if he would consent to standardized field sobriety. The report states that Lefevers did consent and performed poorly on all tests.

Based on the totality of the circumstances, Lefevers was placed into custody for driving under the influence. Ezell then made contact with the complainant and owner of the fence.

The owner of the fence stated he was investigating the sound of a horn when he found the wreck and observed Lefevers placing cans in the bed of his truck.

Upon searching the truck bed, Deputy Ezell found approximately six more empty Twisted Tea cans. Implied consent was read and Lefevers did agree to provide a sample for testing.

Lefevers was then transported to the Fort Loudon Medical Center where the blood draw was conducted and then transported to the Loudon County Detention Facility without incident.

Lefevers was charged with driving under the influence and was released on $2,500 bond.

LOUDON MAN HELD ON $80,000 BOND, FACES AGGRAVATED ASSAULT CHARGES On Tuesday, December 10, at around 2:39 p.m., Cpl. Jonathan Sartin with the Loudon County Sheriff ’s Office was dispatched to Fort Loudon Hospital in reference to a domestic assault victim who came to the hospital.

Upon arrival, Sartin made contact with a woman who had dried blood on her face and her head, along with a large scrape mark on her side. The woman stated the night prior that her husband, 49-year-old Hubert Eddie Bennett of Loudon, and her were in their truck coming from Maryville.

According to the report, Bennett had been drinking and was upset with his wife. The woman stated at one point he told her he would “beat the back of her head in with (a bottle of) Jim Beam”.

The woman said she got out of the vehicle on Highway 321 and she then got back into the vehicle when Bennett’s cousin began driving.

The woman stated that somewhere on Steekee or Vonore Road, Bennett began hitting her in the back of the head.

She then put her head down by the center console and he was reportedly “hammer fisting” the back of her head. The woman stated she then attempted to get out of the truck to get away and Bennett grabbed her by the hair and forced her back into the vehicle.

At some point during the altercation, the woman stated Bennett’s cousin began slowing the truck down and the woman stated Bennett pulled a “red curved bladed knife out” and told them if he stopped the truck he would “gut them” and then kill himself.

According to the report, once they pulled into the residence, the woman stated she was able to get inside and hide in her daughter’s room until the next morning when her oldest daughter was able to take her to the hospital for her injuries.

The woman had visible marks on her hands, a large red mark with scratches on her side and an approximately threeinch laceration on the back of her head. The hospital completed a CT scan of the woman’s head and discovered she had a brain bleed and transferred her to the University of Tennessee Hospital for further evaluation.

Bennett was charged with aggravated assault, especially aggravated kidnapping and was held on $80,000 bond.

December 13, 2024:

Clare Marie Ferguson, 41, Loudon, was charged with misuse of the 911 emergency system and held on a $1,000 bond.

Megan Kaye Keaton, 41, Sweetwater, was charged with a capias for Municipal Court and released on a $0 bond.

Melissa Marie James, 44, Maryville, was charged with simple possession/ casual exchange and held on a $1,500 bond.

Maxfield Hilton Lancaster, 40, Knoxville, was charged with a capias for criminal court and held on a $1,000 bond.

Travis Blake Langley, 40, Lenoir City, was charged with public intoxication and held on a $2,000 bond.

December 14, 2024:

Cory Edward Brown, 35, Knoxville, was charged with possession of burglary tools and held on a $2,000 bond.

Wesley Shane Eury, 47, Lenoir City, was charged with misuse of the 911 emergency system and released on a $0 bond.

Cesar Gustavo Gomez-Sanchez, 23, Memphis, was charged with license required and held on a $2,000 bond.

Austin Bradley Rogers, 19, Loudon, was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, possession of drug paraphernalia, and simple possession/ casual exchange.

He was held on a $3,000 bond.

December 15, 2024:

Zury Jimenez, 28, Philadelphia, was charged with driving on a revoked/suspended license and held on a $1,000 bond.

Jeffrey Samuel Saunders, 43, Oak Ridge, was charged with a capias for criminal court and held on an $80,000 bond.

December 16, 2024:

Cesar Gustavo Gomez-Sanchez, 23, Memphis, was charged with license required and held on a $2,000 bond.

William Anthony Stephens, 43, Lenoir City, was charged with a capias for criminal court and held on a $750 bond.

Megan Kaye Keaton, 41, Sweetwater, was charged with a capias for Municipal Court and released on a $0 bond.

Travis Blake Langley, 40, Lenoir City, was charged with public intoxication and held on a $2,000 bond.