A murder case on the books since last year finally reached conclusion as Melvin Simmons pled guilty in Cannon County Circuit Court Thursday to manslaughter. Simmons was arrested in 2007 and charged with first degree murder after he went to the home of Danny Lee Mooneyham, located on Manustown Road, and stabbed him to death with a knife. Simmons has been in jail since his arrest and was permitted to plea to the significantly lesser charge because of an agreement reached between himself and the State of Tennessee. Simmons was sentenced to 15 years in prison as a 60 percent career offender. Simmons will be required to serve at least 9 years of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.
Simmons admitted under oath to stabbing Danny Lee Mooneyham several times throughout his body at Mooneyham’s home. Mooneyham had been arrested two years prior to his murder and charged with aggravated assault after allegedly stabbing Simmons with a fireplace poker, nearly killing him. The case against Mooneyham was subsequently dismissed and it is believed Simmons went to Mooneyham’s home in an attempt to retaliate.
Simmons was represented throughout the entire process by local Attorney Stan Bennett and the State was represented by Assistant District Attorney General David Puckett. After taking Simmons’ plea, Chancellor Robert E. Corlew, III imposed the 15 year sentence. Simmons will continue to serve out his sentence in the Tennessee Department of Correction’s Special Needs Facility where he has been for the last several months. Simmons is being housed there because the injuries he received from the fireplace poker attack require constant medical attention.