Declines To Allow Him To Go To Madisonville Church Program
posted July 21, 2008
Criminal Court Judge Don Poole on Monday said allowing Steven Tyler Frizzell to get out of jail and attend a Madisonville church rehab program "raises a tremendous fear that he would once again behave erratically."
Judge Poole declined to drop bond for the 22-year-old Frizzell to the previous $75,000, instead keeping it at $200,000.
Judge Poole said Frizzell, who is charged with causing a wreck that killed a Soddy-Daisy man and severely injured his wife and a family friend, was allowed out on bond once before. He said, "Six days later he kicked everybody in the teeth" when he was caught buying beer and "sticking his tongue out at everyone."
Attorneys Bryan Hoss and Lee Davis had sought the lower bond so Frizzell could go to the rehab program operated by a church his uncle attends.
The trial was postponed recently after a mistrial was caused after there was a small fire at the Courts Building. Then it could not be held this week because one of the injured women had a planned family vacation and the other is just getting out of the hospital. It is now set for Nov. 11.
Prosecutor Jay Wood said the state could try it sooner, but that is the soonest a defense expert can be present.
Frizzell is charged in the wreck that killed family friend, 72-year-old Robert T. Frizzell.
Authorities said Frizzell had previously been charged on 11 different occasions with offenses involving either driving or alcohol.
In the fatal wreck, police say Frizzell went around a curve on the wrong side of Old Hixson Pike on May 28, 2007, and slammed into the vehicle driven by Robert Frizzell. Joann Frizzell and Ruby Arnold were severely injured.
C.W. Young testified that he is a 61-year-old recovered drug and alcohol addict who runs the center across from Watson Chapel Church.
He said Frizzell enrolled in the program for 10-11 days just after he was charged with buying beer while on bond. He said he "done great."
Mr. Young said there are about 13 men in the program, who live in a former church building and have morning Bible study and evening devotions along with lessons in anger management and finances. He said there is a psychiatrist on staff.
He said those in the program work clean the church and work the grounds and also work in the nearby vineyard of the uncle of Frizzell.
He said the program is not accredited by the state.
Noting that "one or two" of those in the program have their own vehicle and they are not always supervised and are free to leave, prosecutor Wood said, "It scares me to death that he would walk away."
Attorney Hoss said Frizzell has already spent almost 10 months in jail and could benefit from the rehab program.
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