Man convicted of attempted voluntary manslaughter in Crockett County stabbing
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF DISTRICT ATTORNEY GENERAL FREDERICK H. AGEE:
CROCKETT COUNTY, TN — On February 18, 2026, after a two-day jury trial, Antonio Pewitte (38) was found guilty of Attempted Voluntary Manslaughter and Aggravated Assault.
Pewitte was originally indicted for Attempted First Degree Murder and Aggravated Assault.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: DA’s Fugitive Friday: Antonio Pewitte wanted for attempted murder
He will be sentenced by the Honorable Clayburn Peeples at a later date. He is facing a maximum sentence of 10 years at 100% to serve in the Tennessee Department of Correction. Pewitte has prior felony convictions for Robbery and Criminal Simulation.
On October 19, 2024, after an argument with his former girlfriend with whom he shared a child, Pewitte drove from Brownsville to Bells to lay in wait for the victim to arrive at Pictsweet, her place of employment. Pewitte ran up behind her and stabbed her five times, three times in the face, once under her right breast, and once in the right arm. Pewitte then fled the area, dumped his vehicle at his grandmother’s residence in Humboldt, and was located by the U.S. Marshals in Memphis 10 days later.
“We want to thank the Crockett County Jurors for their service. Our Office believes that the defendant ambushing and stabbing the victim five times, especially in the head area, was enough to prove his intent to commit first degree murder. Additionally, the jury was not permitted to hear about Pewitte’s prior felony convictions under our Rules of Evidence. However, we respect the Jurors for performing their civic duty for their community. We also want to thank the Bells Police Department, particularly lead investigator, Lt. Dustin Crawford, as well as the Crockett County Sheriff’s Office, Gibson County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Marshal’s Service for their hard work on this case. This is another example of a man committing a violent assault on a domestic partner, and our Office will continue doing everything we can to hold violent offenders accountable.”
-Frederick H. Agee, District Attorney General
This case was prosecuted by District Attorney Frederick H. Agee and Assistant District Attorney Nina W. Seiler.
For more Crockett County news, click here.
