A 20-year-old Virginia man is scheduled to appear in Cumberland County General Sessions Court on Thursday, July 2, 2026, to face a series of criminal charges stemming from two separate incidents earlier this year, including an alcohol-fueled altercation at a local venue and a subsequent single-vehicle crash on Interstate 40.

John Watkins Fowlkes, of Blackstone, Virginia, faces multiple charges across several court dockets, including underage driving while impaired, disorderly conduct, and possession of alcohol by a minor.

According to court affidavits, the first series of charges stems from an incident late on the night of February 14, 2026. Officer Amy Sherrill of the Crossville Police Department responded to Club 1660 following reports of a male threatening security staff with a firearm.

Security personnel informed officers that Fowlkes had been denied entry to the establishment because he appeared intoxicated and was under the legal drinking age of 21. Security camera footage allegedly captured Fowlkes swaying and stumbling before urinating on the front porch of the business. According to the warrant, Fowlkes then attempted to initiate fights with patrons waiting in line.

When ordered to leave the property, Fowlkes reportedly threatened a security guard, stating he had a gun in his truck and would “take care of this.” Witnesses stated Fowlkes retrieved a small black handgun from the passenger side of a gray Ford F-150, but a friend intervened and took the weapon from his hand before he could brandish it. Fowlkes initially left the scene but was arrested when he returned to the venue just after midnight to pick up friends. Officer Sherrill noted a strong odor of alcohol on Fowlkes and observed multiple containers of alcoholic beverages inside the truck.

For this incident, Fowlkes was charged with:

• Disorderly Conduct

• Possession/Consumption of Intoxicating Liquor by a Person Under 21

Less than two months later, Fowlkes was involved in a highway accident that led to additional charges. On Sunday, April 12, 2026, Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Nicholas Steenbock was dispatched to a single-vehicle crash involving a gray Ford F-150 on Interstate 40 West near the 320 mile marker.

Upon arrival, responding deputies noted that the occupants of the vehicle were initially unconscious. While interviewing Fowlkes, Trooper Steenbock reported detecting a strong odor of both intoxicating beverages and marijuana. The trooper noted that Fowlkes exhibited slurred speech and drowsiness, and performed “very poorly” on standard field sobriety tests. Fowlkes was taken into custody and transported to the Cumberland County Justice Center, where a consensual blood draw was performed.

Arising from the crash, Fowlkes was charged with:

• Underage Driving While Impaired (Ages 18-20)

• Failure to Maintain Lane (Driving on Roadways Laned for Traffic)

• Failure to Exercise Due Care

• Violation of the Financial Responsibility Law