A 27-year-old man pleaded guilty to joyriding and vandalism after reportedly operating a tractor that did not belong to him and damaging the owner’s soybean field.
According to the warrant, on May 21 Rickey Ray Stoner Jr. was operating a tractor on Jacksboro Rd. without the consent or knowledge of the owner. Deputy Daniel Jefferson was dispatched to this location and observed a red tractor in a field. When he got closer, he noticed the tractor had been driven approximately 300 yards through the planted soybean field and was now stuck in the field.
Deputy Jefferson observed a male later identified as Stoner in the operator's seat attempting to get the tractor unstuck. According to the warrant, when Deputy Jefferson attempted to detain Stoner, he pulled away from his grasp and attempted to flee the scene.
Once Stoner was detained, Deputy Jefferson could smell a “strong odor of intoxicant commonly associated with an alcoholic beverage.” He also observed that Stoner’s eyes were glossy and bloodshot. Stoner then reportedly admitted to the deputy that he had consumed a “six pack.”
Deputy Jefferson was later informed by the property owner that after an inspection of the property, there was damage to the grain auger, the front wheel of the tractor was destroyed and there was damage to the field and the crops. Stoner was charged with vandalism, joyriding, resisting stop and public intoxication.
In court last week, Stoner was sentenced to 11 months and 29 days on supervised probation after pleading guilty to vandalism. He was also sentenced to 11 months and 29 days on supervised probation for joyriding. These sentences will run concurrently.
Stoner also pleaded guilty to additional charges following a drunk driving incident. According to the affidavit of complaint, Trooper Ben Cannon was dispatched to a crash at the intersection of Capshaw Road and Adcock Road on June 3. Once he arrived on scene, he found a crashed Ford Escape and a black Chevy Pickup. The driver of the Chevy was Stoner. Stoner’s pregnant girlfriend was a passenger in the truck at the time of the crash.
According to Cannon, Stoner had an odor of “an intoxicating beverage about his person.” Stoner was unable to perform a standardized field sobriety test because he was being treated by EMS. There was reportedly an empty Bud Light can and an empty Old Smokey Moonshine jar inside the pickup. The truck also reportedly had a strong odor of burnt marijuana coming from inside with marijuana residue in the truck.
Cannon then asked Stoner if he would consent to a blood draw on the scene. Stoner gave consent and EMS drew blood. He was charged with DUI and three counts of reckless endangerment.
Consecutive to the following charges, he pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and was sentenced to 11 months and 29 days to serve 120 days in jail, the balance on supervised probation. Concurrent to the previous sentence, he also pled guilty to a DUI first offense and was sentenced to 11 months and 29 days to serve 48 hours in jail, the balance on supervised probation, victim impact panel, alcohol and drug assessment and follow all recommended treatment, alcohol safety education class, $350 fine, court costs and loss of driving privileges for one year. He also pled guilty to a financial responsibility law violation and was assessed a $10 fine.
