Year
2011
Year
2014
Year
2021
County Clay has had many notorious characters over
the year but none come close to Michael Edward Lanham AKA Iron
Mikey.
No one comes close to the number of arrests and
time behind bars. About 10 years ago, Lanham had 67 convictions to
his name. Even at 50 years of age, his arrests kept growing. At
one point, Central Regional Jail listed his booking under "Iron
Mikey" instead of his real name. He was well known behind bars.
Truth is, Mikey had an out of control drinking
problem that almost always ended up in a fight. That happened over
and over.... almost every time he came down from Roane County.
One old guy we saw was sitting in a lawn chair on Main
Street and a drunk Mikey started in pelting the disabled senior
citizen.
During Apple Festivals, Iron Mike was to be watched out
for.
One Sunny April afternoon, Lanham went after the Ace Cub
reporter. That conviction cost Lanham 8 months in the slammer.
During one Court case, his attorney refused to meet
privately with the lad... insisting that a Bailiff be in the room.
Mr Lanham kept Central Regional Jail busy for years!
aw
