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ERWIN — Unicoi County Sheriff Kent Harris entered a not guilty plea to felony charges against him at his arraignment hearing Tuesday morning in Unicoi County Criminal Court.
Senior Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood, appointed by Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Cornelia A. Clark in November to oversee the Harris case, denied two motions filed by Harris' legal counsel seeking the dismissal of charges against their client - one alleging that District Attorney General Tony Clark interfered with the independence and composition of the grand jury that in October returned 10 true bills charging Harris with 10 felonies. The other motion filed previously by the defense sought the dismissal of the charges against Harris alleging that the presentment document returned by the grand jury was not signed by grand jury members or the grand jury foreman when it was presented to the court.
On Oct. 14, a Unicoi County grand jury returned 10 true bills charging Harris with 10 felonies, including six counts of official misconduct and one count each of tampering with evidence, criminal simulation, theft over $1,000 and attempted aggravated assault.
Harris' legal counsel previously filed a motion seeking the severance of these offenses, which was granted by Blackwood. The six counts of official misconduct will be tried together, as will the criminal simulation and theft over $1,000 charges. The attempted aggravated assault and tampering with evidence charges will be tried separately from the others.
Clark elected to have the theft over $1,000 and criminal simulation charges tried first. Blackwood set a trial date for July 30 in Unicoi County Criminal Court for these charges.
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Keep visiting JohnsonCityPress.com and read Wednesday's print edition for more on this developing story.
countrytoo writes:
February 7, 2012
1:31 PM
He won't get out of trouble, like the people that he made pay for their cheating and stealing. He should stand trial just like I would expect to do if I had done a crime. No special treatment for me nor Mr. Kent... You people with the signs in your yard to support Harris will look foolish when he is convicted.
TruthBtold writes:
February 7, 2012
1:49 PM
I believe in our country's system that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. But I also believe in our Declaration of Independence's statement that every man is created equal. So why is Sheriff Kent who is still being paid, with 10 felony charges, not being treated the same as a deputy who has not been proved guilty as well, with 3 misdemeanor charges, has been suspended from duty without pay pending the outcome of his court case.
justme writes:
February 7, 2012
3:07 PM
I guess it like the old saying goes: it is not what you know - it is who you know - and it appears he knows a olot of whos
southampton08 writes:
February 7, 2012
6:09 PM
Perfectly said justme. No question there is unethical behavior in this case and its unbelievable this guy is still in office. My understanding is this man hasnt been able to perform his duties in 18 months because of injury. Sounds like he should have been let go along time ago. Run this corruption out of town.
sweetpea writes:
February 8, 2012
2:41 AM
bet when time comes for trial he will loose his memory from the head injurys he claims to have recieved..he needs to be treated just like anyone else that would of had these charges. and no he is not being tried and convicted before his trial..just saying actions speak louder than words..he is living proof of that......
blue56ford writes:
February 8, 2012
5:48 AM
It runs in the family, even his mother tried to raise money illegally for this scumbag. You people in Unicoi county should be so proud.
ChinaDoll writes:
February 8, 2012
1:09 PM
So what is is now because we have a few scumbags in Unicoi County you want to say we all are? Well im sorry but you can't judge everyone by one persons actions there are still people that are not supporting Kent and i am one of them. I think that everyone should be charged for their actions and that the judges that let officers and people with money or like everyone in this town says its never what you know or what you did or didn't do but its who you know that decides weather you are guilty or not guilty? If it would have been anyone else but Kent, they would have been in jail during the trail not out walking the streets and they sure as hell wouldn't still have their job, which is the reason they have the 10 charges against them. I don't know how some people can sit there and say they still support him, it was the county tax payers money that he took and what would you do if it was your case that he messed with. I know of a few people that they have had evidence against and it had just went away or they have got all their charges dropped. My case was one of those the guy who raped me didn't get charged because he family knew everyone in the court system. They had all the evidence they needed to charge him and Kent let him get away with it, that is one of the main reasons i left Unicoi County and will never move back there.
The Blue Wall writes:
February 8, 2012
7:53 PM
ChinaDoll If what you say is true why didn't you contact the Justice Dept. in D.C. and have the court system and sheriff looked in to ?
sweetpea writes:
February 9, 2012
2:12 AM
I agree with everything you say ChinaDoll. and the advise The Blue Wall speaks of is a very good idea.
fireman2412 writes:
February 9, 2012
12:40 PM
Really throw Kent out you must be the ones that got caught doing somthing and you are mad at Kent casue he caught ya stop being such cry babys. Im not saying I think he should walk free he should face the samething everyone else does and in this county that aint much. But another thing if they do kick out Kent who is going to take over as sheriff Ronnie Adkins lol really what a joke I wouldnt want him to be top law dog in this county he is just has two faced has Kent and plus anyone that would hire Carrol Mumpower dont need to run anything. Who else could run this county Mike Hensley maybe he could but i really dont think he would do a good job at it. So think about say they should throw Kent out when they dont have anyone to put in his place.
ChinaDoll writes:
February 9, 2012
9:14 PM
The Blue Wall : the reason i didn't contact anyone else is because i was underage at the time and no one would talk to me and for me to do it now wouldn't be worth it because i have moved.
fireman2412 : and i wasn't caught doing anything i have never been in trouble with the cops when they found me i was in a diabetic comba and had been drugged, raped, stripped, and left outside to die by the time i woke up in the hospital they already had everyone in custody and had already done the rape kit. "The reason they couldn't charge him" they said was because there were only same traces of his seamen inside me most of it was in my underwear which they found in his apartment along with the rest of my things. His father worked at the court house at one point and knew everyone there. They had written statements from 5 different people stating everything that had happen and about them putting me outside and told the police that i had been out there for a few hours before anyone noticed and called the police but he still got away with everything can you tell me why that is. O wait i already know because it has nothing to do with what you have done or didnt do it is who you know and you mean to tell me you would rather someone that steals the tax payer money and changes cases to be in office then anyone elses. How are we to know that you are not one of the people he has helped get out of a case or even that you are good friends with him. I'm sorry but with all the evidence they had on my case there was no way he shouldn't have been charged.
DaisyMae writes:
February 10, 2012
5:34 PM
China Doll, very sorry to hear about what happend to you in Erwin, but not surprised. Lived here all my life & some people seem blinded by the reality of what goes on in this town & "not just in the Sheriff's office". Am completely disgusted with the corruption in this town & would also move if I could. People would rather believe a lie than be open minded to learn the truth. You are right on "it's who you know." Appears you need to be a member of "the good ole boys club" (of which I have no intention of being involved in. Have never been in trouble with the law & plan on keeping it that way. Am not saying the sheriff is guilty, but for the people screaming "innocent until proven guilty", I see it as he is already proven innocent "before" going to trial." The feds must have evidence against him or they could be sued. Will be interesting to see how this turns out as I strictlly believe there should be no favoritism or "above the law" for anyone, including myself. Do you know of anyone else that can walk free after being charged with 10 felonys, kept their job & still being paid by the taxpayers for a job he is not doing? I admire the DA for trying to do his job. He didn't want to because he & the sheriff were good friends. Glad to learn there is at least one ethical, moral person that cannot be bought off or "look the other way". Have great respect for DA Clark & that's a lot more than respect than I have for a large part of our "so called" officials in Erwin.
fireman2412 writes:
February 10, 2012
11:01 PM
chinadoll im not good friends with him I said he should get a trial likeveryone else but you know how that works in this county and i also meant that there and no cop in this town that would do a good job has sheriff in this county everyone that works under are just as bad as he is I think the only person in this county that would do a good job would be regan tilson he is the only honest cop in this town him and a few of his police officers that would be it. It dont matter who they put in there it will be the same ole thing. And im sorry for what happend to you.