Anthony Cloud
Staff Writer
Two individuals were arrested over the weekend on trafficking charges.
On Friday, Jimmy Helton, 28, of Kettle Island, was arrested on the charge of first-degree trafficking a controlled substance. He was arrested by Deputy Leon Wilson of the Bell County Sheriff’s Department.
Helton later was indicted and pleaded guilty to the charge in open court. He was sentenced to three years in the penitentiary.
Bobby Roston Smith, 65 of Tazewell, Tenn., was arrested on charges of first-, second- and third-degree trafficking a controlled substance. He was arrested by officer Barry Cowan of the Middlesboro Police Department on Saturday. He was also charged with failure to or improper signal.
Two individuals also pleaded guilty to burglary charges on Friday in Bell County Circuit Court.
Michael Dale Brooks and John Harrison Fuson both pleaded guilty to incidents involving theft from Rick’s Auto Care.
Brooks, 28, of Middlesboro, pleaded guilty to third-degree burglary. He was sentenced to three years in the penitentiary.
Fuson, 31, of Middlesboro, pleaded guilty to third-degree complicity to commit burglary. He was sentenced to five years in the penitentiary. If the sentence is probated, he will be placed on supervised probation for five years.
Other sentences handed down include:
• Charles Edward Overton, 46, of Pineville, pleaded guilty to two separate indictments. On the first, Overton pleaded guilty to theft by unlawful taking under $500. He was sentenced to 12 months in the Bell County Jail. If the sentence is probated, he will be placed on supervised probation for 24 months;
On the second indictment, Overton pleaded guilty to third-degree burglary. He was sentenced to five years in the penitentiary. If that sentence is probated, he will be placed on supervised probation for five years;
• Janet Rena Hall, 39, of Middlesboro, pleaded guilty to first-degree possession of a controlled substance and use or possession of a controlled substance. She was sentenced to 60 days in the Bell County Jail for both charges. The sentences will run concurrently;
• Billie Jean Bullins, 29, of Middlesboro, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree possession of a controlled substance, second- and third-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana. She was sentenced to five years in the penitentiary for the first-degree trafficking charges, 12 months in the Bell County Jail for the second- and third-degree trafficking charges and 90 days in the Bell County Jail for the marijuana charge. If the sentences are probated, she will be placed on five years probation for the second- and third-degree charges;
• James Forester Holland, 41, of Essie, pleaded guilty to the charge of receiving stolen property over $10,000. He was sentenced to five years in the penitentiary. If the sentence is probated, he will be placed on supervised probation for five years.
Anthony Cloud is a staff writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. He can be contacted via email at acloud@heartlandpublications.com or by phone at 606-248-1010 ext. 208.



















