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Coffee County Business Owner Charged With Tax Evasion and Theft
The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to the indictment and arrest of a Coffee County business owner. John Constantine, Sr. was charged with tax evasion and theft. Revenue Special Agents arrested Constantine in Manchester, Tenn. on Friday (Jan 16).
On January 13, the Coffee County Grand Jury indicted Constantine on six Class E felony counts of failing to file sales tax returns, one count of filing a false franchise and excise tax return and one Class C felony count of theft of property of more than $10,000. The indictments charge that from July 2010 through December 2011, Constantine failed to remit collected sales tax. The indictment also charges that Constantine filed a false franchise and excise tax return. Bond was set at $35,000.
“These charges are a symptom of organizational controls on my part,” Constantine told our news partner the Manchester Times. “Due to the complexity during the change of ownership and relocation of my business we encountered unforeseen difficulties.
“The Department of Revenue came to my business with guns drawn in March of 2014. This was the first I was aware of any problem. We have been in complete compliance since then. As soon as we were made aware of errors we tried to make things right with the state and that was our intention whether or not these charges were brought and that is what we will continue to do in the future.
“I have been in business in Coffee County since 1989 and I have never knowingly cheated a customer or the government out of a dime.”
“This investigation will serve as a reminder that retailers are not entitled to use or keep sales tax monies,” Revenue Commissioner Richard Roberts said. “When sales tax revenues are collected by a retailer they are at all times property of the state or local government and must be remitted to the state.”
If convicted, Constantine could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in the state penitentiary and fined up to $3,000 for each count of attempted tax evasion. He could also be sentenced to a maximum of six years in the state penitentiary and fined up to $10,000 for theft of property.
This case was pursued criminally by the Department in cooperation with District Attorney Craig Northcott and his staff.
Citizens who suspect violations of Tennessee’s revenue laws should call the toll-free tax fraud hot line at (800) FRAUDTX (372-8389).
Pearman Guilty Of 1st Degree Murder, Aggravated Assault and Child Abuse
Jurors in Rutherford County have found Jacob Pearman guilty of murdering his wife Carla at their home in Murfreesboro on Valentine’s Day 2013.
Pearman was found guilty of first degree murder. A first degree murder conviction carries an automatic life sentence.
He was also found guilty of aggravated assault and child abuse against Carla’s then 7-year-old son.
Sentencing on those charges is set for March 16.
Pearman’s trial began last Monday, testimony concluded Saturday and the jury heard closing arguments Monday morning.
The prosecution had a videotaped confession in which Pearman admits he choked Carla to death while the two argued about the child abuse charges he faced. He was scheduled to appear in court on those charges just hours after Carla’s murder.
Pearman himself did not testify during the trial. His defense attorneys argued he was troubled, depressed and mentally ill.
Carla is the former Carla Dillard of Manchester and was a 2002 graduate of Coffee County High School. (WKRN)
Woman Arrested For Theft From Tullahoma Wal Mart Deli
An employee of Wal-Mart on North Jackson Street in Tullahoma has been arrested for taking food from the deli without paying for it.
Angie Hise of the store’s loss prevention reported on Jan. 19 to Officer George Dodson that Amber Lynn Tkaczyk, 24, had been observed taking food. When Officer Dodson spoke with Tkaczyk she admitted to taking $111 worth of food from the deli. She was arrested and transported to the Coffee County Jail where she was charged with theft of property. She is scheduled to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court Feb. 12 on the charge.
1/24/15 —- Dean Langford
Mrs. Dean Langford passed away Monday evening at Life Care Center in Tullahoma.
Funeral services for Mrs. Langford will be conducted at 2:00 PM, Saturday at Tullahoma Funeral Home.
Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Memorial Gardens.
Visitation with the family will be held from 11:00 AM till service time on Saturday.
Tullahoma Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Weekly Gas Price Update
Gas prices across the nation and in Tennessee have fallen to the lowest prices in nearly six years.
AAA said the average price of regular gasoline in all major Tennessee cities sits at less than $2 per gallon.
Nationally, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded sits at $2.06. On Sunday, there were 24 states, including Tennessee, with an average price below $2 a gallon.
Crude oil remains at the lowest levels since April 2009. The price for a barrel of WTI settled at $48.69 on the NYMEX on Friday.
AAA predicted that the national average price for regular unleaded gasoline to stay below $3 per gallon in 2015, unless there are any major increases in the global price of crude oil.
The low price for gas in Manchester is $1.77 and in Tullahoma the low price per gallon is $1.82.
Motlow Men Split Weekend Games
Jaylen Barford
The Bucks (14-3, 7-2) are coming off a weekend trip to West Tennessee where they split a pair of conference games. On Friday, Motlow rode a career-high 24 points from sophomore Reggie Williams to a 114-97 win over Dyersburg State in Dyersburg.
The trip continued to Memphis on Saturday, where the No. 24-ranked Bucks ran into Southwest Tennessee, the nation’s eighth-ranked team. The Saluqis proved themselves to be worthy of their ranking with a 96-74 win over the Bucks.
Jaylen Barford led Motlow with 29 points, along with 14 rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Benefit For Harryman Family
Derek Harryman
A fundraiser for the family of Derek Harryman will be held this Saturday Jan. 24. A spaghetti supper will be held from 5:30pm til 9pm at the Coffee County Rescue Squad building on the Murfreesboro Hwy. Plates will be $10 each. A silent auction will be held with many great items donated from area businesses. Some of the items donated include Nashville Predator tickets and a hockey stick donated by Thunder Radio, a water filtration system from Sears of Tullahoma and so much more. All proceeds will go to help the Harryman family with funeral expenses. Derek was well-known for sports broadcasting and writing. If you would like to donate to the silent auction please call 409 5907 or 952 0973.
1/18/15 —- Jane G. Finger
Jane G. Finger, age 87 of Tullahoma passed away Sunday, January 18, 2015 at NHC of Tullahoma.
Memorial Services will be held at a later date in Florida.
A native of New York, she was the daughter of the late Gabriel and Mary Powell Johnston.
Mrs. Finger had lived for many years in Jensen Beach, Florida but had relocated to Tullahoma due to her failing health. She was a homemaker who enjoyed sewing and making crafts. She was an excellent seamstress who made many of her own clothes as well as clothes for her daughter and men’s suits. While living in Florida, she loved going to the beach and collecting shells. She also enjoyed playing tennis.
In addition her father, she was preceded in death by her husband, Francis G. Finger; one brother, Richard Johnston and three sisters, Doris, Rita and Eileen.
Mrs. Finger is survived by one son, George Finger and his wife, Ellen of Palm Coast, FL; one daughter, Dawn Feather and her husband, George of Tullahoma; five grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements
1/24/15 —– Sarah Mai Ferrell
Funeral services for Mrs. Sarah Mai Ferrell, age 80, of Manchester, will be conducted at 1:00 PM on Saturday, January 24, 2015 at Manchester Funeral Home Chapel.
Burial will follow in Gnat Hill Cemetery.
Visitation with the family will be from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM on Friday evening at the funeral home.
Mrs. Ferrell passed away Tuesday morning at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro, TN.
Mai was born in Columbia, TN, the daughter of the late Bill and Hester Phillips Martin.
She was a homemaker and a member of Hope Baptist Church. She enjoyed gardening, playing cards, and working puzzles.
In addition to her parents, Mai was also preceded in death by one son, Frankie Lee; two brothers, Billy and Perry Martin; one sister, Ann Bryan; and one grandson, Justin Kyle Ferrell.
She is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Birl Ferrell; three sons, Tony Lee of Beechgrove, Charles Lee of Murfreesboro, and Kevin Ferrell of Manchester; nine grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.
Manchester Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
1/23/15 —– Kevin Wayne Walker
Kevin Wayne Walker, age 59 of Aberdeen, Mississippi and formerly of Nashville, Tennessee and Hudson, New York, passed away on January 17, 2015. Kevin was born in Milford, Delaware on December 17, 1955 to Jimmy and Martha Walker.
He graduated from Huntland High School in 1973. Kevin was a loving husband, son, uncle, great-uncle, and friend to many.
His family recalls that Kevin was passionate about everything he did. It didn’t matter what he did; he did it deeply. He loved history and old architecture. In fact, he restored and sold antiques in Nashville and New York for many years. He was an architectural designer of amazing talent. He was a purist when it came to antiques. “If it came after 1850, it was new,” his mother, Martha recalls. Kevin played a major role in the restoration and furnishing of the State Capitol Building in Nashville. He was so artistic and detail-oriented.
Kevin was an amazing person to know. His wife, Gail, recalls several people saying that knowing Kevin and experiencing life through his eyes was a life-changing experience. “He certainly changed my life,” she says. He was a God-fearing man who took his faith seriously. He was truthful and forthright, too. “If he thought it, he said it,” his family remembers. Like his family, Kevin also had a passion and tenderness for animals…dogs mostly. He would always bring the dogs with him on trips and was thoughtful about their welfare. He got very passionate whenever he spoke of his dogs.
Kevin was preceded in death by two brothers, Kirk and Keith Walker.
Kevin is survived by his wife of 20 years, Gail Walker; parents, Jimmy and Martha Walker; brothers, Kim Walker and Kerry (Angie) Walker; sister, Konnie (Tom) Humphreys; sister-in-law, Karen Walker; as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, all of whom he loved dearly.
Kevin’s family will receive friends and visitors on Friday, January 23, 2015 from 9am until 11am at Spring Hill Funeral Home. Minister Frank Hollingsworth will preside over a Celebration of Life service to honor Kevin the same day at 11am. Interment will follow in the Hillcrest Garden of Historic Spring Hill Cemetery, with family and friends serving as pallbearers. John Kiser will serve as an honorary pallbearer.
Arrangements entrusted to Spring Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5110 Gallatin Road, Nashville, Tennessee 37216 (615) 865-1101 