Hessmer convicted of meth possession for resale

March 20, 2023

Press Release from District Attorney General, Jason Lawson’s Office

John Allen Hessmer

A Wilson County man has been convicted of Possessing Methamphetamine for Resale in Smith County after a two-day Jury trial. John Hessmer was convicted on February 22 of bringing over 40 grams of Methamphetamine into Smith County with the intent to distribute the drug in June of 2021. Unbeknownst to Hessmer, the purchaser was cooperating with the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and the deputies were monitoring the communications setting up the transaction. Sgt. Junior Fields, Kendra Glover and other officers were waiting for Hessmer at the Alexandria exit of Interstate 40 when Hessmer arrived to deliver the drugs. Hessmer was taken into custody and a search of his vehicle yielded three separate bags of the highly addictive crystal substance.

Judge Dee Gay presided over the trial, and the state was represented by Assistant District Attorneys Jack Bare and Javin Cripps. The jury heard proof from the Smith County Sheriff’s Deputies, the TBI Crime Laboratory who tested the drugs, and the cooperating informant during the trial. In his closing argument, ADA Bare stated “John Hessmer set a time certain, a place certain, and a price certain for this Methamphetamine to be sold. He is the one who had control of this poison. When you retire to the jury room, find this Defendant guilty of what he did, bringing Methamphetamine into this County with the intent to sell it.” The jury deliberated for less than one hour before returning its verdict.

“This is exactly the way that pro-active law enforcement is supposed to work,” commented Jason Lawson, District Attorney General.  “When we find out that someone is selling drugs in our county, and we have the opportunity to set up a delivery and intercept the drugs we catch the defendant red-handed,” said Lawson.

“The Smith County Sheriff’s Office works really hard to combat the dangers of illegal narcotics in our community,” said Lawson.  “Sheriff Hopper and his department work tirelessly on behalf of the citizens of Smith County, and although the public may not always see everything that is going on, my prosecutors see the cases that they are brining to us on nearly a daily basis.  They should absolutely be commended for their commitment to take these drugs off of the streets,” added Lawson.   

Hessmer will be sentenced on May 26, 2023, at 1pm. The Defendant is facing a sentence of up to 20 years due to his prior record of criminal offenses.