NEWPORT -- A Sharp County man and cast member of the Discovery Channel's reality show Clash of the Ozarks who told police he had smoked marijuana before a fatal traffic collision in May now faces a manslaughter charge, authorities said.
Third Judicial Circuit Prosecuting Attorney Henry Boyce charged John Earl "Marty" Terrell, 46, of Hardy with the felony Tuesday. Terrell was featured on the six-episode show that ran earlier this year as a longtime friend of a person involved in a local feud between families.
According to the Discovery Channel's online biography of him, Terrell used locally grown corn to make "moonshine" and distributed it in the Ozarks.
Police said Terrell was involved in a May 9 collision on Bluff Road in Hardy that injured Roy Whetstone, 64. In his affidavit requesting an arrest warrant issued for Terrell, Boyce said Terrell admitted to Hardy Police Chief Ernie Rose that he had smoked marijuana before the accident.
Whetstone was taken to the Fulton County Hospital and later transported to a Baptist Health hospital. Whetstone died June 28 from his injuries, Boyce said.
Rose said skid marks indicated Terrell was driving left of the road's centerline when his vehicle struck the vehicle Whetstone was riding in. Rose found a pipe containing marijuana in Terrell's vehicle, a .380-caliber semiautomatic pistol and two magazines of ammunition.
He was also charged with driving while intoxicated, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, carrying a weapon, careless and prohibited driving, driving left of center, driving with an expired vehicle license and no proof of insurance.
If convicted of the Class C felony, Terrell faces up to 10 years imprisonment, Boyce said.
State Desk on 10/16/2014