A pair of teens charged with murder in connection with a July homicide made their first appearance in Criminal Court Monday, and one of the two was served with a new indictment for attempted murder.
Demetrice Cordell, 19, and Anthony Lacy, 18, appeared before Judge Stacy Street for their initial appearance in Criminal Court. The two men originally were charged through General Sessions Court, but they were bound over to a grand jury in October. On Nov. 17, the grand jury returned indictments against the pair.
Lacy is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree felony murder, especially aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, three counts of theft of property over $1,000, one count of theft of property over $500, three counts theft of property under $500, three counts of auto burglary and evading arrest.
Cordell is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree felony murder, aggravated burglary, three counts of theft of property over $1,000, one count of theft of property over $500, three counts theft of property under $500, three counts of auto burglary and evading arrest.
Police said Lacy and Cordell took part in a crime spree through the Roan Mountain community July 3 and 4, during which they allegedly killed 56-year-old Danny Vance.
During a preliminary hearing in General Sessions Court, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Agent Brian Fraley testified that both men had confessed to the crime spree after their arrest.
Cordell said he and Lacy went to Vance’s home to rob it because Lacy knew Vance and knew he had guns at his home, Fraley said, adding that both men told officers that Vance came out with a handgun and that is when Lacy struck Vance in the head with a rock.
During their interviews, Fraley said Cordell and Lacy provided information about the thefts and burglaries they ultimately were charged with.
In court on Monday, Street appointed each defendant an attorney to represent him and reset the case for Feb. 6.
Also on Monday, Lacy was served with a new indictment charging him with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated assault for an incident that occurred in the Carter County Detention Center where Lacy allegedly attacked a corrections officer with a mop handle. The indictment said Lacy “intentionally and with premeditation” attempted to kill Corrections Officer Dwight Lacey, who is no relation to Anthony Lacy.
The new charge against Lacy was also set to be heard Feb. 6 in Criminal Court.
Lacy also appeared in General Sessions Court Monday on charges relating to two separate incidents in the jail. A charge of simple assault against Lacy was dropped, but a charge of aggravated assault was postponed until Feb. 6.
Lacy is being housed in a Tennessee Department of Corrections unit as a result of several incidents in the Carter County Detention Center.
The assault on the officer, along with a string of other incidents, led the District Attorney’s office to request that Lacy be transferred to another facility for safekeeping.
Criminal Court Judge Stacy Street approved the request, issuing a court order directing that Lacy be transferred to the Tennessee Department of Corrections.
In the order, Street cites allegations of “behavioral issues” demonstrated by Lacy during his incarceration and said Lacy’s “risk to others’ safety is such that he should be transported as soon as is reasonably possible.”