In most American jurisdictions, the moment a death investigation is ruled a homicide, a firewall is erected. Any attempt to breach that wall is typically met with the full weight of a Public Integrity Unit or a State Attorney General’s intervention.
The decision by DA Stephen Hatchett not to charge Sheriff Tommy Jones for his "grilling" of the Medical Examiner (ME) in the Lester Isbill homicide is considered unique—and highly controversial—because of how it contrasts with standard prosecutorial behavior across the country.
The Felony Threshold: Witness Coercion:
In other states, the Sheriff’s actions would likely have been categorized not just as "bad optics," but as a felony.
The Stand-Alone Offense: Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-507 (Coercion of Witness), a person commits an offense if they attempt to influence a witness to testify falsely or withhold information.
The DA’s Standard: Most DAs would argue that a Sheriff—the ultimate figure of authority—"grilling" the state’s lead forensic witness after she issued a homicide ruling is a textbook example of attempting to "influence" testimony. In many counties, the recorded phone call alone would have been enough to bypass a grand jury and file a direct information charge for Obstruction of Justice.
Official Misconduct: The "Private Benefit" Argument:
Other DAs often pursue Official Misconduct (T.C.A. § 39-16-402) when an official uses their badge for personal or political gain.
The Benefit: By attempting to overturn a homicide ruling, the Sheriff was seeking a "benefit"—the removal of criminal liability from his office.
The "Unprecedented" Factor: Prosecutors nationwide are trained to protect the independence of the Medical Examiner. When a Sheriff publicly attacks that independence, most DAs view it as an assault on the integrity of the government, an offense that usually carries a "zero-tolerance" policy to prevent a total collapse of public trust.
The "Conflict of Interest" Protocol:
In many jurisdictions, if a Sheriff were even a potential subject of a homicide investigation, the local DA would recuse themselves immediately.
The Special Prosecutor: Rather than presenting the case themselves, a DA in a different county might have requested a Pro Tem Prosecutor from a neighboring district or asked the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to present directly to the grand jury.
The Digital Weapon: Sheriff Jones recorded the interrogation and posted it online, using his public platform to broadcast a challenge to the state's lead forensic witness.
The Message: By publicizing the confrontation on social media, critics argue the Sheriff wasn't seeking clarity; he was attempting to intimidate the ME into recanting her finding before the case could reach a courtroom.
The Missing Charge: Would Other DA's Have Acted?
In most legal jurisdictions across the United States, a "stunt" of this magnitude—performed by the head of the agency under investigation—would have triggered immediate criminal scrutiny.
Coercion of a Witness: Most District Attorneys would argue that "grilling" the state's primary medical witness in an active homicide case constitutes Witness Tampering or Coercion. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-16-507, attempting to influence a witness's testimony in an official proceeding is a felony.
Official Misconduct: Other DAs often use Public Integrity Units to charge officials who misuse their badge to interfere with investigations for their own "benefit"—in this case, the benefit of clearing his own name and office.
Obstruction of Justice: In many high-profile "death in custody" cases (such as those overseen by federal prosecutors or state-level AGs), any act by a superior to "bully" the forensic record is treated as a textbook case of Obstruction.
Why it Matters: This removes the "intimidation" factor. A District Attorney who works with the Sheriff every day has a "compromised loyalty." An outside prosecutor would have no reason to shield the Sheriff and would likely have pushed for an Obstruction charge to ensure the "Isbill Seven" didn't become the only people held accountable.
