By Karen Hall

Editor

A Lewisburg man who was found guilty by a jury in October was sentenced last week to nearly three years in jail.

William B. "Smoke" Gatlin, 42, of Holly Grove Road, was charged with possession with intent to sell not less than ½ ounce or more than 10 pounds of marijuana, a Schedule VI controlled substance. He was also charged with possession with intent to deliver a Schedule VI controlled substance, and possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia.

Circuit Court Judge Lee Russell sentenced Gatlin to two years in prison, followed by 11 months 29 days in jail. Gatlin was also ordered to pay $1,023 court costs and a $2,000 fine.

Also sentenced last week was Kenneth D. Runk, 36, of Chapel Hill, who pleaded guilty to theft of property and official misconduct. Runk was the Chapel Hill Fire Chief from September 2009 until he was terminated this summer. By his own admission, according to documents in his case file, Runk got into financial difficulties, and found a way to divert some of the town's money into his own pocket.

"I feel like it is fair and accurate to say I owe the City of Chapel Hill $3,130 for fuel and monies I havc taken for my personal use," Runk wrote.

Runk was ordered to spend a total of four years and six months on supervised probation, and to pay $653 court costs, as well as repay the Town of Chapel Hill at a rate of $100 per month.

Thomas E. Altavilla, 36, pleaded guilty to two counts of identity theft, and received a five-year sentence on each, to be served at the same time. These thefts occurred in 2008, but Altavilla fled Marshall County after being indicted. He has not been free, however: he has been serving time in Ohio for identity fraud and aggravated theft, as well as for a federal charge of mail fraud.

"He said ... his wife Maria would give him the (Social Security) numbers and they would take out loans and when he got one, he would give her half and she would do the same thing when she got a loan ... (He) said his wife Maria had come up with the scam," according to a report in Altavilla's case file.

Also pleading guilty was Phillip L. Fuller, 58, of Highway 64. He was charged with driving after being declared a Habitual Motor Vehicle Offender, and was sentenced to three years in prison, of which he must serve 35 percent before being eligible for a parole board hearing. Fuller is classified as a "multiple" offender because of his extensive criminal record which includes convictions for driving under the influence, public intoxication, and aggravated assault.

This week in Circuit Court, another man who was charged with driving after being declared HMVO took the unusual step of pleading guilty and agreeing to a sentence the same day he was indicted by the grand jury.

Forrest R. Hester, 32, of Bell Buckle, was sentenced to 18 months in jail, of which he must serve 30 percent before being eligible for a parole board hearing.

After hearing how Hester was declared HMVO in January, and observed driving in November, Russell asked, "Are you in fact guilty?"

"Yes, sir," answered Hester without hesitation.

"It's probably pretty smart to get it (your sentence) out of the way," said Russell.