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Stock gets six years followed by lifetime supervision
The prime suspect in the disappearance of Megan Maxwell has been ordered to serve a six year federal prison term. Judge Ronnie Greer imposed the sentence Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Greeneville, in the case of Jeffrey Lee Stock, 42, Fisher Vin Way, Del Rio. Stock had pleaded guilty last year, to violating the Sex Offender Registry Law. The defendant was convicted of two counts of sexual battery involving 16 and 17 year-old females in 1998 and was released from prison in 2000, with the admonition that he register as a sex offender where ever he lives. But after Stock moved to Cocke County in October, 2008, he didn't register as required. Investigators say he is the prime suspect in the April 26, 2009 disappearance of the 19 year-old Maxwell who last was seen alive at the home of her father on Mineral Street in Newport. Testimony during the three hour hearing, revealed that Stock had jumped into the vehicle occupied by the female teenagers in Morgan County, Indiana, brandished a box cutter, forced the girls to a secluded area and then sexually assaulted them after their car became stuck in mud. The females told investigators that Stock demanded their driver's licenses so he could get their addresses, and then threatened to kill them if they reported the assault. Stock later pleaded guilty to reduced charges of sexual battery. Testimony in the hearing indicated that Stock went to Knoxville several days after he arrived in East Tennessee where he tried to buy cocaine from a prostitute, but ended up being charged. As he was being released from jail a week later, an officer determined that he hadn't registered as a sex offender and required the registration before he was released. Cocke County Detective Derrick Woods testified that Stock was the last person seen with Ms. Maxwell and the officer told the court that her car was found burning soon after she left her father's home. "And as of this date, Megan has not been seen or heard from since," the officer told the court. Defense Attorney Clifton Corker argued that the disappearance of Maxwell had nothing to do with the sex offender charge and he told the court that Stock is only "a target" in the disappearance. Under federal sentencing guidelines, Stock faced a sentence of 33 to 41 months, however Asst. U.S. Attorney Helen Smith argued for an enhanced sentence, pointing out that the defendant has "a serious criminal past" with 54 crimes in three states. As a result she asked for a ten year sentence, the maximum allowed under law, "to reflect the seriousness of his behavior." In addition, the prosecutor argued that Stock should be placed on federal supervision for life after the prison term is served "to protect the young women in the community and his family." In response, the defendant asked for a shorter term saying he once was a race car driver but then was charged with the Indiana rapes. "They exploited me on the news and I lost my racing sponsorship by Craftsman and Shell Oil," he told the court. Stock went on to say the incident involving the teens "was all about drugs." "They are crack heads," he added. According to Corker, Stock once was a popular race car driver but after he began using cocaine, "the wheels fell off." The court in imposing the sentence, said he could not consider the Maxwell investigation in deciding on a punishment. "The only conclusion I have heard is that you are a target of an investigation, and with good reason." Judge Greer went on to tell Stock, "you've been involved in criminal conduct since you were 20 years-old. You have a complete disregard for the law and the rights of others," he said. The judge added that Stock, instead of taking responsibility for his actions, "you blame it on everybody else. Until you accept responsibility, you will be a clear threat to the community.You can't continue to go down the path you've been going down." "I know that your honor," responded Stock. Judge Greer also ordered the defendant to be on federal supervised release for the rest of his life, following completion of his prison term, and also ordered that Stock be given the opportunity to participate in drug and sex offender rehabilitation programs while he is incarcerated. A number of Maxwell's family and friends attended the sentencing, and outside of the courthouse after the hearing, the teen's mother Lisa Maxwell said it always is difficult to be in a court setting with Stock. The mother went on to say the sentence is not as long as she would have liked, "but he'll be looking at more charges soon, along with his dad and possibly his mother." The defendant's 63 year-old father Terry Stock recently was indicted by a Cocke County Grand Jury on a charge he gave a false statement to law officers who are investigating the disappearance of Maxwell. In addition he is charged with filing a false report because when asking the court for a public defense attorney, the elder Stock allegedly did not reveal that he owns a parcel of property.
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Return to Today's News Stories - Front PageWednesday, September 08, 2010
Healthy Lifestyles Initiative is implemented
Pot search
Stepp named executive director of the chamber
Former Newport officer sentenced on public indecency charges
Vanpelt crash
Sunday, September 05, 2010
Painkiller arrests
Senter given consecutive life sentences
Iliff McMahan reflects on his term as Cocke County Mayor
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Judiciary declines to modify Judge John Bell ruling
Samples injured in midnight crash
Smith is indicted on public indecency charges
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Indoor marijuana growing operation found
Grand jury indicts local residents
Mistrial declared in Henegar case
Cocke County has new officials
Cocke County woman dies in single vehicle crash
Fall rom ceiling leads to arrest
Rusty Denton is sentenced
Friday, August 27, 2010
Arrest in Jefferson County Animal Shelter solicitation case
Cocke County child abuse trial continues
Newport and Cocke County get SWAT unit
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