In Knoxville, Tennessee, a repeat offender's criminal career has been halted by a court's decision to impose a stern, fifteen-year sentence for a burglary that hit close to home. According to a press release from the Knox County District Attorney's Office, Darrick Ashley Grider, aged 44, was convicted of Aggravated Burglary after unlawfully entering his cousin's residence and absconding with money.
The case hinged on the evidence presented during a one-day trial in January in which Assistant District Attorneys TaKisha Fitzgerald and Marissa Pecora detailed how Officer Charles Kuykendall of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office responded to the burglary call on August 8, 2022, finding a home on Western Avenue had been burglarized, the kitchen ransacked, and money stolen. The victim identified Grider, her cousin, as the perpetrator, and forensic analysis of the fingerprints at the scene provided further incriminating evidence, supporting her claims.
Charme Allen, Knox County District Attorney, expressed her office's resolve in bringing Grider to justice, stating, "This repeat offender will now be off our streets for many years to come." With a criminal history that includes nine prior felony convictions alongside three incidents of Aggravated Burglary from other jurisdictions, Grider faced the harsh end of sentencing guidelines for a Class C felony.
Assisting in the case's prosecution were Assistant Victim Witness Coordinator Sheri Burkett and Legal Secretary Cathleen Wilson, while Judge Scott Green presided over the sentencing, determining that Grider would serve the maximum sentence without the possibility of parole. For additional information on the District Attorney's office or for inquiries, Sean McDermott can be contacted at 865-215-2515, or [email protected].
