Five Charged In Binge-Drinking Death

A young man who police say drank himself to death will be laid to rest Tuesday.

18-year-old Hershel Edward Privett Jr., who graduated from Whitwell High School last year, died sometime late Friday night or Saturday morning.

Marion County investigators say he died of alcohol poisoning after binge-drinking with five other people. Marion County Sheriff Bo Burnett said Privett had a blood alcohol content over four-times the legal limit for intoxication, in the .30 to .40 range.

Privett's body was found in the back of a Chevy SUV when a Powell's Crossroads' police officer pulled the truck over for speeding on Highway 283 near the Sequatchie River.

The other men in the truck told police they were taking Privett to a hospital.

Three 18-year-olds who were with Privett that night are charged with underage drinking.

19-year-old Cody Smith is charged with tampering with a crime scene, underage drinking and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

And 23-year-old Gary Ray Dickens is charged with criminally negligent homicide and five counts of giving alcohol to minors. Burnett said Dickens bought the alcohol for the minors.

Friends of Privett said when the men who were with him Friday night first noticed he was passed out they shaved his head and painted him green as a joke - before realizing he wasn't going to wake up.

Whitwell High School principal Wes Green said "he was as friendly and as courteous as a student could be. He always had a smile on his face and always had a pleasant word to say to someone."

Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at Whitwell Memorial Funeral.

A bond hearing for Smith and Dickens is set for 8:30 Tuesday morning in Marion County General Sessions Court.