92.9 WNPC

Thursday, September 02, 2010

Judiciary declines to modify Judge John Bell ruling
A Tennessee Court of the Judiciary panel has refused to modify it's judgment in the case of Cocke County General Sessions Judge John Bell. Judge Bell was convicted of three violations of the Judicial Code of Ethics in June, ordered removed from the bench with pay for 90 days and is required to undergo judicial ethics training. But Prosecutor Joseph Daniel asked for a modification of the judgment, arguing that Judge Bell should be required to pay for a substitute judge who will hear cases while he is off the bench. The prosecutor maintains that the state or the citizens of Cocke County should not have to pay the costs of the substitute judge. The prosecutor also asked that Judge Bell be required to pay the court costs associated with the case. In a ruling filed Wednesday, Presiding Judge Don Ash ruled that there is no provision in the Tennessee Constitution or state law, giving authority to the judiciary panel to alter or amend the judgment with regard to funding a substitute judge. The order does require Judge Bell to pay discretionary costs totaling $3,107.45. Judge Bell was denied in his request that the ethics training requirement be partially met by his attendance at the annual Tennessee Conference for General Sessions Judges. The original finding that the judge violated the Code of Ethics, has been appealed.

Samples injured in midnight crash
A one car crash Wednesday night on Highway 25E near Dutch Bottoms Church in Cocke County, seriously injured one woman. Kimberly Samples, 37, Pecan Tree Lane, Newport, was operating a 1995 Pontiac southbound at the time of the midnight crash according to Trooper Jeremy Shelton. "She lost control and ran off the road on the left side of the roadway. She hit a utility pole, split it in two and she was trapped in her vehicle," the officer said. Samples was freed by members of the Newport Rescue Squad and local firemen, and then transported to the Cocke County Fairgrounds. She was flown from there to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The crash knocked out power to the area and Trooper Shelton said traffic had to be stopped intermittently over a four hour period while the pole was repaired. According to the officer, there was evidence that alcohol may have been a contributing factor in the crash and the investigation is continuing.

Smith is indicted on public indecency charges
A Newport police Sargeant terminated August 19 after he allegedly exposed himself in public, was taken into custody Wednesday on public indecency charges. David Smith, 43, Brooks Street, Greeneville, was named on a sealed presentment returned Tuesday by Cocke County Grand Jury. Newport Chief of Police Maurice Shults testified before the grand jury. He says Smith performed a lewd act that is not allowed under state law while seated in his patrol car at 3:30pm on August 16. Two females reported seeing the incident while Sgt. Smith was seated in an alleyway between McMahan and Woodlawn Avenues at the time of the alleged incident. An internal investigation was begun leading to the officer's termination. The indictment alleges the officer did "intentionally engage in masturbation in a public place." Chief Shults says under Tennessee law the charge of public indecency " involves sexual intercourse, masturbation, sodomy, bestiality, oral copulation or flagellation in a public place." Before he was hired by the Newport department in November, 2007, Smith worked for the Greene County Sheriff's Department. Smith was allowed to resign from his position following allegations that he viewed pornography on a department computer while on the job. But Chief Shults says he was not aware of the allegations in Greene County before Smith was hired. "He was never charged and was still a certified officer. We ran him through our hiring process including physical and psychological evaluations and he was found to be fit for law enforcement service. We had nothing to exclude him from employment," explains the chief. Chief Shults adds that anytime an officer is released because of conduct unbecoming an officer, the Police Officers Standards and Training (POST)Commission requires that they be provided with a "change of status" report. The chief now has filed a request to remove Smith's certification and as a result he will be unable to serve as a police officer in Tennessee unless he is re-instated. "I don't know that if he is de-certified for that reason, that he would ever be re-certified," Shults said. Smith surrendered on the charge lodged by the grand jury, and was released on a $500 "own recognizance" bond. A $500 fine is the maximum punishment for the misdemeanor violation. It does not carry a jail term.

Thursday, September 02, 2010

Judiciary declines to modify Judge John Bell ruling

Samples injured in midnight crash

Smith is indicted on public indecency charges

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Indoor marijuana growing operation found

Grand jury indicts local residents

Mistrial declared in Henegar case

Cocke County has new officials

Cocke County woman dies in single vehicle crash

Fall rom ceiling leads to arrest

Rusty Denton is sentenced

Friday, August 27, 2010

Arrest in Jefferson County Animal Shelter solicitation case

Cocke County child abuse trial continues

Newport and Cocke County get SWAT unit

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Webb arrested on drug charges

Marijuana conspiracy sentences are imposed

Newport police warn of scam

Steward sentenced in robbery of 82 year-old woman

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Labor inspector allegedly threatened

Steward sentenced in robbery of 82 year-old

Cocke County motorcycle fatality

Child abuse and neglect case investigated