CARYVILLE, TN (WLAF) – Campbell County Sheriff’s Deputy Preston Mullins was conducting a stationary patrol on State Route Highway 116 in Caryville in the midnight hour of Saturday when a black Ford F-150 passed another vehicle at a high rate of speed. He attempted to catch up to truck and reached speeds of 96 mph.

Mullins eventually reached a safe following distance from the truck and paced it at 88 mph in a 45 mph zone. As the deputy was pacing behind the truck, the driver turned on two off road light bars mounted in the rear bumper of the vehicle facing toward Mullins. The driver then sped up to a higher rate of speed, according to a report from the sheriff’s department.

Mullins was able to stop the truck with the driver identified as Jessica Shelton and a passenger identified as Dustin Todd Sexton. When Mullins made contact with the pair, he noticed the smell of alcoholic beverages coming from the Ford. Shelton denied drinking that night. Mullins then noticed a redness to Shelton’s face and neck areas. He also saw a redness to her eyes and a glossiness. When Shelton stepped out of the vehicle to do field sobriety tests, she was allegedly unsteady and staggering. After failing the field sobriety tests, Mullins asked again if Shelton had consumed any alcohol to which she reported she had drunk two Twisted Teas.

Mullins then spoke with the passenger in the F-150 and asked him to get out of the cab. When he stepped out, Mullins saw two opened cans of Twisted Tea alcoholic beverage in the passenger door panel. The cans were still cold to the touch and covered in condensation, according to the report. Sexton told Mullins that he owned the truck to which the registration confirmed. Sexton was asked why he allowed Shelton to drive, and he responded he felt he was too intoxication to drive.

An inventory of the truck prior to towing turned up a Makarov 9mm handgun with seven live rounds in the magazine in the center dash, which Sexton claimed as his. An opened case of Twisted Tea alcoholic beverage was found in the passenger side floorboard, as well as spilled alcohol in the cup holder area of the center console.

Shelton, 21, 333 Dogwood Lane, Jacksboro, is charged with failure to maintain lane, speeding, reckless driving, reckless endangerment, driving under influence (DUI), drivers to exercise due care.

Sexton, 24, 421 Mountain View Rd, Robbins, is charged with possession of a hand gun under the influence and DUI by consent. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 10/28/2021-6AM)

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