Unicoi County sheriff pleads not guilty; judge denies dismissal motions but separates charges
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.
Read the full story on the Johnson City Press Web site.
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