Tennessee man accused of tampering with witness during trial

A Dyersburg, Tennessee, man persuaded his fiancee to lie on the stand during a trial in 2014 in Cape Girardeau County court, and he was at large as of Tuesday afternoon, Cape Girardeau County sheriff’s deputies said.

The Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Dennis Jerome Kimble, 32, with conspiracy to commit perjury and tampering with a witness in a felony prosecution.

His bond has been set at $20,000 cash.

Kimble faced the charge of distribution of a controlled substance in a trial March 3 in front of Judge Michael Gardner, according to a probable-cause statement filed in the perjury case by Cape Girardeau County sheriff’s Lt. Eric Friedrich.

Cape Girardeau police executed a search warrant at Kimble’s house in the 600 block of North Sprigg Street and found 10 baggies of heroin and drug paraphernalia, Friedrich wrote.

Kiysha Vinson testified at the trial the drugs were hers and was arrested after her testimony, according to the statement.

Prosecuting Attorney Chris Limbaugh asked why she had not come forward in the nearly two years of the case, and she said she did not know that was an option, Friedrich wrote.

Vinson agreed to an interview with deputies Dec. 9, and she said Kimble convinced her to testify because she likely would receive probation, according to the statement.

Kimble was afraid of receiving a 20-year prison sentence if found guilty, Friedrich wrote.

Kimble coached Vinson when she was interviewed by Kimble’s public defender, Leslie Hazel, according to the statement.

Hazel would shut off the tape recorder when Vinson would ask Kimble questions, Friedrich wrote.

Vinson said during a recess in Kimble’s trial, Kimble told Vinson what he used to cut his heroin because he was sure she would be asked that, according to the statement.

“Vinson explained that her family at the time tried to talk her out of testifying for Kimble, but she did so anyway believing she would only get probation if charged with a crime,” Friedrich wrote. “Vinson stated she has rarely spoken with Kimble since her arrest and had since lost custody of her children due to her pending charge.”

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

600 block of North Sprigg Street, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

100 Court St., Jackson, Mo.