Berrier given 3 years at 100% for fleeing from police

Michael R. Moser | Editor emeritus mmoser@crossville-chronicle.com, Crossville Chronicle, Tenn.
·4 min read

Apr. 22—The man who led police on a high-speed chase on Lantana Rd. that ended in a crash with patrol cars at the intersection of Lantana Rd. and Miller Ave. in March pleaded guilty to an information charging aggravated assault and drunk driving.

Adam Rhea Berrier, 43, received a three-year prison sentence to be served at 100%. Fine and court costs were waived and Berrier also lost driving privileges for one year. He is being given credit for the 29 days he has served since his arrest.

Deputy Nathan Lewis observed a silver-colored minivan traveling at a high rate of speed traveling outbound on Lantana Rd. Lewis attempted to stop the driver who continued fleeing at speeds up to 90 mph.

Berrier turned around at Lantana Dr., reportedly made a middle finger gesture at the deputy and fled toward Crossville. Spike strips were successfully deployed but Berrier continued his flight with tires flattened.

The chase ended when CCSO and CPD patrol cars forced the vehicle to a stop against a light pole. The end of the pursuit was captured on video by a citizen and posted on social media.

No one was injured in the incident.

In other cases on the docket, the following guilty pleas were entered:

—Violet Wilma Atkinson, 63, originally charged with possession of a weapon by a felon, reckless endangerment and two counts of aggravated assault in connection with a June 2022 incident investigated by the CCSO, pleaded guilty to an information charging aggravated assault by reason of insanity with the remaining charges dropped. A probation violation charge is still pending and that case was continued to May 22.

—Bransom Allen Thomas Eldridge, 21, charged with possession of meth with intent and reckless endangerment alleged on Oct. 17 and investigated by CCSO and CPD, pleaded guilty to simple possession of a controlled substance and was placed on judicial diversion with the plea set aside pending completion of supervised 11-month and 29-day probation.

—Amber June Hubbard, 40, charged possession possession of more than .5 grams of meth with intent, pleaded guilty to possession of more than .5 grams of meth and is to serve six months in jail followed by the balance of an eight-year sentence on supervised probation. Fine and court costs were waived. The charge stems from a Sept. 18, 2022, arrest by CCSO Deputy Brandon Griffin.

—Larry Benton Davis, 38, pleaded guilty to an information charging two counts of theft of property of more than $2,500 and received a four-year sentence to serve with furlough granted to enter long-term in-house treatment. Fine and court costs were waived and Davis was given credit for 17 days already served in jail. The incidents occurred on Jan. 29 and March 19 and involved family members as the victims.

—Derrick Antwan Eugene McKnight, 23, pleaded guilty to an information charging possession of marijuana with intent to sell and/or deliver and theft of property of more than $2,500, occurring on March 5, and received a two-year sentence. Judicial diversion was granted and the sentence set aside for the two years of supervised probation. The charges stem from a traffic stop by THP Trooper Donald Seiber during which a stolen vehicle was recovered.

—Kristian Whitaker Terebessy, 24, pleaded guilty to an information charging burglary and received a two-year suspended sentence to be served on supervised probation. The plea was set aside with judicial diversion and Terebessy is to pay $10 restitution. The charge stem from an Oct. 7, 2023, incident at the Stonehenge Grill where he was a former employee.

—David Lee Nelson, 63, pleaded guilty by information to attempt to possess more than .5 grams of meth for sale and/or delivery and received a three-year sentence to be served on supervised probation. Fine and court costs were waived. The charge stems from CPD's Officer Keith Sadula's March 30 search during which meth was recovered.

—Joshua Jyshun Scott, 18, pleaded guilty to an information charging evading arrest, vandalism of more than $2,500, reckless endangerment and driving under the influence and was granted judicial diversion with a four-year sentence set aside for supervised probation. The incident stems from a March 5 traffic stop and flight from THP with the trooper in agreement with the sentence. Scott is to pay $5,000 restitution to the Tennessee Department of Transportation with fine and court costs waived.