FROM: Jody Pickens, District Attorney General, 26th Judicial District
On June 1, 2021, officers with the Jackson Police Department arrested Tavares Joy, forty-three (43) years of age, of Jackson, Tennessee, after they observed 24.9 grams of Methamphetamine fall from Joy’s groin area during a traffic stop. Sgt. Stewart Cepparulo and Investigator Ashley Robertson with the JPD Gang Unit went to Joy’s home address to conduct a search of his residence. At the residence, they located a firearm, a digital scale, an additional 4.2 grams of Methamphetamine as well as 83.9 grams of Marijuana.
The Defendant had numerous prior felony convictions which prohibited him from possessing a firearm.
The prior felony convictions include Hardeman County, Tennessee convictions for Aggravated Burglary and Theft Over $1,000 in March of 2001, Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon in May of 2002, Robbery in December of 2009, and Aggravated Burglary and Theft Over $1,000 in 2012. He also had a prior conviction in Madison County, Tennessee for Theft Over $1,000 from September of 2003.
On May 31, 2022, a Madison County Grand Jury returned an indictment against Joy for numerous felony drug, weapon, driving, and other related offenses to his arrest on June 1, 2021.
Joy posted bond and was released pending trial. On June 7, 2022, Joy was once more taken into custody for new outstanding arrest warrants. When rearrested, Joy was found to be in possession of Marijuana, brass knuckles, and drug paraphernalia.
While awaiting trial in the Madison County Jail, Joy repeatedly used the jail communication system to send threatening and harassing messages to a witness against him from his June 1, 2021, arrest. The State of Tennessee moved to revoke his bond and Joy was held without bond pending trial.
On January 3, 2023, a Madison County Grand Jury returned two additional indictments against Joy.
The first was for Possession of Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a Prohibited Weapon, and Resisting arrest related to his June 7, 2022, arrest. The second indictment was for Coercion of a Witness and Retaliation for Past Action related to the numerous threatening messages he sent from the jail.
On May 22, 2025, the State of Tennessee tried Joy on the indictment related to his June 1, 2021, arrest. The State was represented by Assistant District Attorney Brad Champine. A Madison County jury convicted Joy of Possession of .5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine with Intent to Sell or Deliver, Possession of ½ Ounce or More of Marijuana with Intent to Sell or Deliver, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Tampering with Evidence, Violation of the Window Tint Law, and Driving on a Suspended Canceled or Revoked License with Prior Convictions.
On July 25, 2025, the State of Tennessee tried Joy on the indictment related to his threatening of a witness while awaiting trial. The State was represented again by Assistant District Attorney Brad Champine. A Madison County jury convicted Joy on one count of Coercion of a Witness and one count of Retaliation for Past Action.
On September 22, 2025, Judge Joseph Howell sentenced Tavares Joy to a total of 41 years to serve in the Tennessee Department of Correction for the offenses he committed on June 1, 2021. Judge Joseph Howell proceeded to sentence Joy to an additional twelve (12) years for his threatening conduct to a witness while in jail.
Judge Howell found consecutive sentencing to be appropriate based on the defendant’s lengthy criminal and ordered the two sentences to run consecutively for a total sentence of fifty-three (53) years.
On April 13, 2026, Tavares Joy pled guilty in his last remaining indictment to the misdemeanor charges of Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a Prohibited Weapon (brass knuckles), and Resisting Arrest. His total sentence remains fifty-three (53) years and he must serve approximately 25½ years before he becomes eligible for parole.
“The Defendant’s conduct reflects a long pattern of felony criminal activity, continued offenses even after arrest, and attempts to intimidate a witness while this case was pending,” said District Attorney General Jody Pickens. “This case illustrates the simple truth that there are people that live in society who refuse to obey the law and will, even after being incarcerated, continue to violate the law. When those individuals are identified by a review of their conduct, the only option is to remove them from society which is what has occurred in these cases.
“I appreciate the hard work of both Assistant District Attorney General Brad Champine and the Jackson Police Department investigators, the Madison County, Tennessee jurors who returned the verdicts in these cases, and Judge Joseph Howell for handing down a sentence that in my opinion reflects both the seriousness of this Defendant’s actions and the need to protect the public.”
