​Online Bullying Raises Questions Beyond Social Media

The recent change in the forensic ruling in the death of Lester Isbill—from natural causes to homicide has drawn renewed attention to how criminal cases are evaluated and prosecuted. In that context, public statements by a husband-and-wife social media team claiming they have current District Attorney, Steve Hatchett, “on speed-dial” have raised additional questions.

There is no allegation that these claims are accurate or that any improper conduct has occurred.  However, when individuals publicly brag/assert personal access to a sitting prosecutor while one being the subject of a felony criminal complaint as recently as 2013, a time when current DA Hatchett was the 'Chief Deputy DA' during the scandal filled tenure of former DA Steve Bebb--it can prompt broader concerns about the role that perceived influence may play in criminal prosecutions...Did the current DA drop the prosecution in 2013, essentially giving a them 'slap in the hand' and they are now showing how eternally (grateful and connected) they are to the DA?

Maintaining public confidence in the justice system requires not only fair outcomes, but assurance that prosecutorial decisions are insulated from real or perceived external pressure.

Given the heightened public interest following the revised forensic ruling, these statements may warrant closer examination to assess their accuracy and any implications for public confidence in the justice system.  

Before you Judge Sheriff Jones, "Remember what Sheriff Bivens and DA Bebb Got Away With"

 

Fake Lawyer Scandal--Their Actions Described as: "egregious, illegal, and abhorrent" 

This scandal involved one of the most egregious violations of constitutional rights in Monroe County’s recent history. Here are the key facts:

While current controversies deserve scrutiny, the public should remember that the Bivens administration oversaw one of the most egregious and intentional violations of constitutional rights in Tennessee legal history - a deliberate scheme that multiple officials knew about and allowed to continue.”

This demonstrates that Monroe County’s law enforcement accountability issues span multiple administrations and are deeply rooted in a culture of protecting officers from consequences - making it clear that Sheriff Tommy Jones doesn’t have a monopoly on misconduct, but rather inherited a long-standing problem.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Posing as fake attorneys wasn’t just about rogue detectives - it was part of a systemic failure that included:

∙ Sheriff Bivens being warned to stop the scheme but allowing it to continue.
∙ DA Bebb refusing to prosecute the detectives despite constitutional violations.
∙ Both officials facing no criminal consequences.
∙ Bebb strategically resigning to protect his pension when legislative removal seemed likely.

Doug E Fresh Brannon

In 2008, Monroe County Sheriff’s Detectives James Patrick Henry and Doug Brannon, working under Sheriff Bill Bivens, engaged in an elaborate scheme to frame John Edward Dawson Jr. for the 2006 murder of Troy Green:
∙ Detective Henry created two fictitious attorneys named “Paul Harris” and “Neil Fink” and worked with jailhouse informant Todd Sweet to convince Dawson these fake lawyers were representing him.

∙ Henry sent fake legal mail to Dawson in jail, treated as privileged attorney correspondence, to communicate without oversight.
∙ Sweet helped persuade Dawson to stop talking to his real public defender (Jeanne Wiggins) in favor of the fake attorneys, while detectives planted a recorder in Sweet’s shoe.
∙ Detective Brannon met with Dawson without identifying himself as law enforcement or reading Miranda rights, pretending to be associated with the fake law firm.
∙ Henry coerced witness Monte Cox to lie, offering to help Cox’s imprisoned friend if Cox would falsely say he bought a gun from Dawson.

Sheriff Bivens’ Knowledge and Inaction:

According to court records, both TBI agent Barry Brakebill and District Attorney Steve Bebb called Sheriff Bivens

I'm done with politics

in late 2008 and told him to stop the scheme involving Sweet, but Bivens allowed it to continue.  During testimony, Sheriff Bivens admitted he was vaguely aware of Henry’s plot and didn’t see “a problem with it,” though he added “if it’s illegal, of course, I don’t want to do it.” Bivens testified he had not conducted an internal affairs investigation into Henry’s conduct..

The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals issued a devastating ruling:

“That Detective Henry would illegally pose as an attorney and arrange the circumstances of the defendant’s case to make it appear as though he had successfully undertaken legal representation of the defendant is abhorrent. That the detective would specifically instruct the defendant not to communicate the relationship to his appointed counsel… renders completely reprehensible the state action in this case.”

The court found that the “egregious actions of the law enforcement officers in this case substantially and profoundly interfered with [Dawson’s] right to counsel under the federal and state constitutions.”

This connects directly to the Dawson case because it shows why Bebb never prosecuted Detectives Henry and Brannon for impersonating attorneys. When asked why he didn’t prosecute them, Bebb testified that “the reason I didn’t prosecute them was because the motive that they did that with was to solve a murder. It was not for their personal gain, and they lost their jobs” - which turned out to be false, as Brannon remained employed and Henry continued working part-time.

As a former Criminal Court judge who campaigned as “a friend to law enforcement,” Bebb had shown an unwillingness to charge police officers for behavior that would land civilians in jail--had the Legislature successfully removed Bebb from office, it would have impacted his pension. By resigning just two months early while citing health reasons, Bebb was able to:

1. Avoid the formal removal process
2. Retain full retirement benefits
3. Claim a medical justification rather than admitting to the misconduct

Det Patrick Henry

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Brian Kelsey opened an investigation in March 2013, noting that “the only remedy available to the Legislature was removal from office” . A state House panel called for Bebb’s resignation after the investigations.

The Strategic Resignation:
On June 6, 2014, Steve Bebb announced he would retire two months before the end of his term, citing heart trouble and bypass surgery . However, Senate Judiciary Chairman Kelsey wrote that Tennessee should expect more outcomes “along the lines of Steve Bebb’s: a two-month-early retirement with full benefits” , making it clear this was seen as a strategic move to avoid removal.

Starting in August 2012, the Chattanooga Times Free Press ran a series of investigative reports alleging that under Bebb, the prosecutor’s office botched important cases through ineptness or misconduct, misused taxpayer money, and played favorites in criminal prosecutions . The allegations included:

∙ Threatening prosecution for coercive purposes, personal use of office vehicles and funds, and failure to prosecute law enforcement officers.
∙ Specifically regarding the Dawson fake attorney case, Bebb refused to prosecute Detectives Henry and Brannon despite the egregious constitutional violations.
∙ Using criminal prosecution to coerce outcomes in civil cases, including threatening a husband with wiretapping charges unless he agreed to give his wife joint custody in their divorce lawsuit.

Todd Sweet

John Edward Dawson Jr. spent four years in the Monroe County Jail before the murder charges were dismissed. When questioned in two court hearings about suborning a witness and posing as an attorney, Henry pleaded his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and refused to answer .
This demonstrates a pattern of misconduct that extended from the detectives through the sheriff’s office to the district attorney’s office - with no one held criminally accountable despite constitutional violations that the appellate court called “reprehensible” and “unconscionable.“​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

DA Steve Bebb told the Times Free Press that he had specifically told the sheriff’s office not to let anyone talk to Todd Sweet, whom he described as “one of the best con men who ever lived,” saying “I was as shocked as anybody when I learned what they had done” .
However, Monroe County Sheriff Bill Bivens testified in court in 2010 that he didn’t remember receiving such a phone call and said he never investigated the detectives’ behavior or disciplined them.

The Full Scope of the Fake Attorney Scheme

How the Con Worked:
Detective Patrick Henry faked stationery from the bogus legal firm of “Harris and Fink” and wrote to inmate Todd Sweet in the persona of an attorney . They created fake letters from the purported attorney “Paul Harris” for cellmate Todd Sweet to show Dawson, including one letter stating that “Harris” had arranged for Dawson’s impounded truck to be released to his wife.
Detective Henry sent a total of six letters to Dawson purporting to be from fictitious attorneys Paul Harris and Neil Fink - five were addressed to Todd Sweet and one directly to Dawson, but all were intended for Dawson. Dawson’s actual lawyer was never informed of these communications.

The In-Person Deception:

In January 2009, Detective Brannon had an in-person meeting with Dawson at the Monroe County Jail in a visitor’s booth, at the behest of Detective Henry . Brannon pretended to be an associate of the fake firm and met with Dawson in the jail . Detective Brannon did not advise Dawson of his Miranda rights or disclose his affiliation with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office before speaking with him, and Dawson’s lawyer was not informed of the meeting.
Henry released Dawson’s truck to his wife after the meeting to reinforce his belief in the fictitious attorneys, and Henry and Brannon told Dawson not to cooperate with his lawyer and to ask his lawyer to postpone his cases as many times as possible.

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OP-ED 2

When Police Pretend to Be Lawyers, the Constitution Is Already in Crisis

Americans expect law enforcement to uphold the Constitution—not impersonate attorneys to sabotage it. Yet in Monroe County, Tennessee, that is exactly what happened.

In one of the most disturbing law-enforcement scandals in recent Tennessee history, sheriff’s detectives fabricated lawyers, sent fake legal mail, secretly recorded a jailed suspect, and coerced witnesses—all to manufacture a murder case. Their actions were later described as “egregious, illegal, and abhorrent.” What makes this case nationally significant is not just what happened, but how many people in power knew—and did nothing.

This was not a rogue incident. It was a system working as designed.

In 2008, Monroe County Sheriff’s Detectives James Patrick Henry and Doug Brannon targeted John Edward Dawson Jr. in a 2006 murder investigation. Henry invented two fictional attorneys and sent Dawson fake legal correspondence that jail staff treated as privileged. A jailhouse informant persuaded Dawson to abandon his real public defender. Conversations were secretly recorded. Brannon met with Dawson while concealing his identity as law enforcement and without issuing Miranda warnings. A witness was pressured to lie in exchange for favors.

Each step violated bedrock constitutional protections that have been settled law for decades.

The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to counsel once formal proceedings have begun, and law enforcement may not deliberately elicit statements from a defendant in the absence of counsel (Massiah v. United States, 377 U.S. 201 (1964); United States v. Henry, 447 U.S. 264 (1980)). The Supreme Court has been explicit that the government may not use informants or deception to circumvent that right (Maine v. Moulton, 474 U.S. 159 (1985)).

Impersonating an attorney is not a gray area—it strikes at the core of the adversarial system. The Court has repeatedly emphasized that interference with the attorney-client relationship undermines the fairness of the entire proceeding (Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335 (1963); Weatherford v. Bursey, 429 U.S. 545 (1977)). Meanwhile, questioning a suspect while concealing law enforcement status and failing to issue Miranda warnings violates the Fifth Amendment’s protection against compelled self-incrimination (Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966)).

None of this law was unclear in 2008.

And yet the scheme continued.

Sheriff Bill Bivens was warned and allowed it to proceed. The district attorney at the time declined to prosecute despite overwhelming evidence of constitutional violations. No criminal charges were brought. When legislative removal became a real threat, the prosecutor resigned—preserving his pension. Accountability never arrived.

This is why Monroe County matters to the rest of the country.

Across the United States, public debate often centers on whether misconduct is the work of a few “bad apples.” But the Fake Lawyer scandal exposes a more uncomfortable truth: constitutional violations persist when institutions are structured to protect themselves rather than the public.

When officers can impersonate lawyers without consequence, the problem is not merely unethical policing—it is a justice system that has abandoned its own rules. When prosecutors refuse to act, constitutional rights become theoretical rather than enforceable. When leaders face no repercussions, misconduct becomes institutional precedent.

Today, Monroe County faces renewed scrutiny over law enforcement practices. That scrutiny is warranted—but it should not be selective or a historical. The culture that allows abuse does not begin or end with one sheriff or one election cycle. It survives through silence, resignation, and institutional self-preservation.

Chickens Come to Roost

The Constitution does not enforce itself. It relies on people in power to defend it—especially when doing so is uncomfortable or politically costly. Monroe County’s Fake Lawyer scandal is a warning of what happens when they don’t.

If impersonating an attorney, fabricating evidence, and sabotaging the right to counsel can go unpunished in one American county, it can happen anywhere.

That is why this story is not local.
It is national.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Video shows a first person narrative of Marvin Young: his family was cheated out of their rightful inheritance--when shown the forged will, DA Bebb agreed there was no way the signature on the will was genuine--but chose to do nothing about it--some of the people mentioned are RIP--they will answer to God for their alleged fraudulent scheme.

Sheriff's Office Issues an Update on Latest Scam Alert

 The Sheriff’s Office Issues a Scam Alert — and Accidentally Performs One

If the sheriff’s office keeps this up, it may want to trademark its new brand identity: “Confusion, but Official.”

Their latest scam alert — ostensibly intended to help residents — reads like the opening scene of a comedy sketch in which law enforcement accidentally scams itself. The message warns that scammers are spoofing the sheriff’s office phone number. Good to know. But then comes the punchline: “DO NOT call the Sheriff’s Office Number.”

Right. Because when someone impersonates your agency, the first rule of safety is apparently don’t contact the agency they’re impersonating.

Instead, residents are instructed to call some obscure detective-division number, buried under nine automated prompts, as if navigating a bureaucratic fun-house during an actual scam attempt is exactly what people need in a moment of panic. Nothing says “we’ve got your back” like a choose-your-own-adventure phone tree.

It would almost be impressive if it weren’t so predictable.

Because for many residents, this isn’t a one-off flub — it’s the sheriff’s office doing what it has perfected: turning every public communication into a reminder of its own credibility problem.

Let’s be honest: public trust didn’t just slip; it took a swan dive sometime around the 2022 missing-child alert fiasco, which lingered so long people wondered if the sheriff was using it as a screensaver. Then came the Lester Isbill homicide investigation — a case some residents still talk about with the same tone people reserve for unsolved mysteries and malfunctioning vending machines.

And who could forget the quick-trigger firing of Deputy Josh Woods after an off-duty DUI? A bold stance on discipline — if you ignore the fact that other personnel with far more serious controversies somehow landed on the magical cushion known as paid leave. The kind of selective response that really teaches the public one thing: consistency is… optional.

So now, when the sheriff’s office releases a “scam alert” that feels like a riddle wrapped in a puzzle wrapped in an automated menu system, the community reaction isn’t shock. It’s more like, “Ah yes, back to regular programming.”

The department seems determined to reassure residents that it is, in fact, not being impersonated — by doing a flawless impersonation of an agency that has no idea what it’s doing. These situations, viewed through the eyes of the community, paint a picture of an agency struggling to maintain its own legitimacy while simultaneously expecting residents to trust its guidance without hesitation.

Instead of offering clarity, they’ve delivered another baffling message that leaves residents shaking their heads and wondering who, exactly, is steering the ship. The sheriff’s office wants the public to be vigilant about scammers — fair enough. But maybe it’s time the agency showed the same vigilance toward its own communication failures.
Until then, every new alert they issue will continue to raise the same uncomfortable question:

Is this supposed to reassure us… or remind us how badly this office has lost the community’s trust?

Instead of providing clarity, the sheriff’s office has delivered yet another performance piece reminding everyone why trust continues to evaporate like mist on a hot sidewalk. The question practically writes itself:

How long can an agency keep asking for public confidence while demonstrating, over and over, that it can’t communicate a simple message without creating a new mess?

Former CIA Analyst Shares Tactics that Could be Used by 2026 Sheriff Candidates

 

In theory, many of the persuasion, influence, and social-manipulation “tricks” described by Andrew Bustamante (a former operative of CIA) could be used — and indeed might have been used — in local elections such as county sheriff races (or other local political contests). 

Bustamante says the CIA trains on influencing and persuasion: “the same level of persuasion … influence … charisma and dynamic creative thinking drives us” in manipulation or motivation. One specific technique he describes is a conversational method: ask two questions, then a validating statement, then repeat — a structured approach to build rapport quickly, make people feel understood, open up, trust you, and self-disclose more.  He frames manipulation and motivation as tools — neutral in themselves — that can be used for “helpful outcomes” or “harmful” ones depending on intent.  He also talks about influencing what people think — controlling information, shaping what’s believable, limiting alternatives, creating an environment where people think they have freely chosen, while their choices have been guided.

Influence and persuasion tactics could be used in campaign events, door-knocking, debates, social media interactions, or community meetings: shaping emotions, creating rapport, projecting trustworthiness and likability — intangible but powerful factors in elections.  Information-control or messaging strategies (framing issues, limiting which alternatives voters focus on, steering conversation, influencing perceived “choices”) — tactics often discussed in intelligence/persuasion literature — might play a role in how issues, opponents, or candidate image are presented to the public.

 

Palmer Luckey makes ethical argument for using AI in War

A group of defense tech startups that includes Anduril, along with traditional defense companies, is developing autonomous AI weapons and tools for use in conflicts around the world, worrying some who say the technology is not ready for such high-stakes environments.

"When it comes to life and death decision-making, I think that it is too morally fraught an area, it is too critical of an area, to not apply the best technology available to you, regardless of what it is," Luckey told journalist Shannon Bream on "Fox News Sunday."

"Whether it's AI or quantum, or anything else. If you're talking about killing people, you need to be minimizing the amount of collateral damage. You need to be as certain as you can in anything that you do."

Luckey added that it's important to be "as effective as possible."

"So, to me, there's no moral high ground in using inferior technology, even if it allows you to say things like, 'We never let a robot decide who lives and who dies,'" Luckey said.

Anduril Industries, founded in 2017, is a defense tech company focused on developing autonomous systems. The company's mission is to modernize the US military through various technologies, including surveillance devices, air vehicles, and autonomous weapons. Lattice, Anduril's AI software platform, powers its tech.

Mark Zuckerberg and Palmer Luckey have ended their long time feud and are now working together in many projects.

The Firing of Deputy Josh Woods: a clear contrast with the handling of other, and more severe, misconduct cases

The swift firing of 17-year veteran Deputy Josh Woods for an off-duty DUI, as announced by Sheriff Tommy Jones, creates a clear contrast with the handling of other high-profile, and arguably more severe, alleged misconduct cases involving jail staff.

This discrepancy provides Deputy Woods with a strong argument that the sheriff's discipline was arbitrary and capricious, or motivated by factors other than the severity of the offense.

The core of a selective enforcement lawsuit would rely on showing that the disciplinary action against Deputy Woods was an Equal Protection Violation under the Fourteenth Amendment—specifically, that he was treated differently from similarly situated employees for improper reasons.

Locals Not Happy with Tommy Jones

The argument rests on the objectively higher severity of the offenses committed by the staff retained (or disciplined less severely) in the Isbill case versus an off-duty DUI.

Sheriff Jones publicly commented on the Isbill investigation, including what the pathologist did or did not view, and implicitly defended his office (“did I or do I believe my staff is guilty of homicide? The answer is unequivocally NO” according to his statement). A nationwide search shows the stunt is unprecedented and could taint a potential jury trial.

Disciplinary Handling--Nurse Courtney Woods--Criminally Negligent Homicide (charged) related to an in-custody death.Terminated, but only after the severity of the death came to light.

Officer Tyler Finger--Official Misconduct (charged), had a prior history of termination from another agency over sexual assault claims (documented in personnel files).  Resigned in May 2025, but was hired in August 2023 despite the prior history and was disciplined earlier.

Officer Tommy Reagan--Official Misconduct (charged), disciplined for falsifying restraint chair logs related to the death.  Was suspended for only three days without pay for the falsified logs before later being placed on paid suspension.

Deputy Josh Woods--Off-duty Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and crash.  Fired immediately (Nov 2025).

The rapid, decisive termination of Deputy Woods for an off-duty DUI allows Sheriff Jones to project an image of strict accountability to the public. This serves as a significant public relations win and is seen as a political stunt to improve the sheriff's image following the severe scrutiny and indictments stemming from the Isbill case.

Risk-Scenario Analysis for Sheriff Tommy Jones' re-election

 

1. Best case scenario:  Media attention in the recent misconduct cases fades after indictments/arraignments;  Jones' office convinces most local voters he is cooperating and he now has a disciplined staff; he pairs that with credible policy changes (procedures, training, independent review). No new damaging evidence released.

Tommy's Handlers in Panic Mode

2.  Worst Case:  All the recent bad press stories remain active through hearings and any witness testimony, opponents run a focused reform/ethics message, local independents swing noticeably away.    Civil suit filings and more critical video or testimony surface in the months before the primary.    Opponents unify around a strong reform candidate; turnout of anti-incumbent voters surges...                                                                                               

Long-tenured public officials often start to look like  permanent fixtures and can create the impression of entitlement or "untouchability" especially when serious in-custody deaths occur under their watch...  "Monroe County deserves leadership, not damage control."  -----  "Ten years of Sheriff Jones, one too many tragedies. Time for a Change."

Why Federal Involvement is Still Possible in the Isbill Homicide

Why Federal Involvement is Still Possible in the Isbill Homicide

PIO hired to gain trust

Even without public confirmation, the DOJ, through the FBI and the Civil Rights Division, often monitors or reviews high-profile cases involving in-custody deaths and alleged law enforcement misconduct, especially when state charges are filed...A state conviction may make a defendant more likely to cooperate with federal investigators (for a reduced sentence), potentially leading to evidence against higher-ranking officials.

Parallel Investigation: The federal government can run its own investigation alongside the state's, often using the FBI. This is most common in high-profile, complex cases.
Waiting Period: The DOJ often waits until the state prosecution is fully resolved (acquittal, conviction, or dismissal) before deciding on federal charges.

"Double Jeopardy" (Not a Factor): The Fifth Amendment's Double Jeopardy Clause does not bar the federal government from prosecuting a defendant for a federal crime (like a Civil Rights violation) even if they were acquitted or convicted in state court. This is due to the "separate sovereigns" doctrine.

It is possible for Sheriff Tommy Jones to be indicted federally for obstruction, but it is not guaranteed.

• The Bar is High: The DOJ would have to prove he acted willfully (for civil rights violation) or with specific intent to obstruct a federal matter (for obstruction) by actively concealing or falsifying evidence, rather than merely making poor judgment calls or public statements.

• Current Focus: The current charges against the jail staff focus on the direct actions (neglect, false reporting, misconduct) that caused Isbill's death. However, in major cases of misconduct by law enforcement, the federal government often opens a separate Civil Rights and/or obstruction investigation to assess the role of command staff in the subsequent cover-up.

Lawsuit-Friendly Counties draw hyper-litigants from far and wide

 

A real and growing issue for law enforcement agencies and municipalities across the U.S. The term “serial litigant” or “hyper-litigant” refers to individuals who repeatedly file lawsuits (sometimes dozens or even hundreds) against government entities, often alleging civil rights violations or police misconduct.

Litigants who frequently engage in legal action are likely to be drawn to jurisdictions perceived as plaintiff-friendly. Such “lawsuit-friendly” counties often provide procedural or cultural advantages that increase the likelihood of favorable outcomes, thereby incentivizing forum shopping and undermining uniform application of the law.

The allure of lawsuit-friendly counties rings like a bell to hyper-litigants, many of whom derive their livelihood from the continual filing of claims.

Among the most vulnerable targets are law enforcement officers who lack adequate training or experience. When procedural errors or lapses in judgment occur, hyper-litigants are quick to capitalize, filing suits that exploit even minor missteps. This dynamic not only burdens local courts but also strains public resources and undermines confidence in the justice system. 

Over time, the concentration of such cases in a few plaintiff-friendly venues encourages a culture of opportunistic litigation—one that rewards manipulation of venue and penalizes honest service. 

Extreme Case Samples: 

Anonymous Participant 364 moved to Monroe County in 2017: using multiple aliases and shell companies, has been involved in more lawsuits than any other Monroe County resident.

Jonathan Lee Riches became notoriously known as one of the most prolific pro se litigants in U.S. history. While serving a federal prison sentence, he filed thousands of lawsuits — literally over 2,600 by some counts — against a vast range of defendants.

His lawsuits included filings against:
Public figures like George W. Bush, Martha Stewart, and Britney Spears;
Corporations such as Google, NASCAR, and even “The Eiffel Tower”;
Abstract or fictional entities — once he sued “the Roman Empire” and “the planet Pluto.”

Bankruptcy Twists, Courtroom Calamity, and the Ever-Changing Cast of LLC's

Auction that was planned for 323 McJunkin Road Has been 'Postponed'

Update on the Auction: It was allowed to continue and on 11/13/2025 the property was bought by a local family...

Just when everyone thought the long-awaited auction at 323 McJunkin Road in Tellico Plains might finally close the book on this wild saga — the chairs were almost set, the gavel polished, the auctioneer ready — everything stopped cold.

Now, Billy — a man with what seems like barely a third-grade education — has managed, with the help of the more schooled Daniela, to upend the Monroe County court system for years. Together, they’ve filed, appealed, delayed, and maneuvered their way through the legal thicket like seasoned performers in a courthouse sideshow that began 4 years ago.

Even John Cleveland, a respected attorney known for representing well-heeled clients, was drawn into the spectacle. Taking the plaintiff’s case on consignment, Cleveland stepped far outside his usual clientele — a move that’s had locals wondering whether he regrets trading his high-dollar suits for muddy boots in this Tellico tangle.

A bankruptcy filing dropped like a thunderclap, and the court ruled the auction cancelled. The formerly Miami based Daniela, is Billy's newest gal/pal and loyal co-pilot in this bumpy legal ride. The 323 McJunkin property had been sold to her by Billy, after being purchased from Marion Hamby, and with the bankruptcy now in play, the entire case is likely frozen in legal ice for years to come.

At the heart of the lawsuit, though, was something far more personal than paperwork: Billy’s former girlfriend claimed she had put up 40% of the original purchase money to help him buy the McJunkin Road house. Billy, of course, told a different tale — that the money wasn’t a contribution at all, but a debt she owed him, and that the lawsuit was nothing more than the work of “a woman scorned.”

Still, the courts didn’t seem to buy that argument — and Billy’s next moves only made things murkier. Taking matters into his own hands, he marched into the Tennessee Court of Appeals, representing himself in what would become one of the most talked-about pro se appeals in Monroe County history.

It was fifteen minutes of courtroom calamity, full of sharp turns, contradictions, and unintentional comedy. At one point, Billy argued that the plaintiff’s lawsuit was invalid because it was filed after his LLC had been dissolved. Billy “Whiskey Barrel” had quietly dissolved Whiskey Barrel Trading LLC soon after the sale to Daniela--apparently unaware that an LLC can still be sued after dissolution.

And, he denies ever bragging about being rich — though earlier he’d boasted about yachts and his supposed fortune. Later, he tries to smooth over a misstep involving the Carson Law Firm, first saying they handled “eleven real estate transactions” for him, then quickly downgrading that claim to “situations.”

After 4 Years of Legal Wrangling, the Case Has Gone to Potts

Due to Bankruptcy Filing--Court Rules Auction Cancelled--Case May be Delayed for Years... 😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩  "Where's that Whiskey Barrel Mamaw?"

Update on the Auction: It was allowed to continue and on 11/13/2025 the property was bought by a local family...

                                                                                                                                                                 Billy Smith Whiskeybarrel Trading LLC' fought the local circuit court verdict for years in Monroe County TN, then tried to appeal the ruling before the Tennessee Court of Appeals without a lawyer--it is seen as one of the worst pro-se appeals by a non-lawyer litigant--a litany of shocking insults against the former girlfriend did not help his 15-minute oral argument. 

At 6:50 minutes into the oral argument video there are inconsistencies in his remarks; saying that comments about 'him being rich and had yachts' were false but he bragged about his wealth earlier. 

Many other blunders, at 13.58 saying that he had 'the police' working on the case for him!  ... and "I was never given time to understand the law."  

It was confusing from the start: the first words out of his mouth, and you think 'WTF' did he say...? 

He currently uses (or did use) the screen name Rusty Trucks on Facebook...

Newsflash Billy--Makes no difference what shell company name or LLC you hide under--An LLC can still be sued after it's dissolution.

In 2024 the case was dismissed by the Tennessee Appeals Court--this link has the opinion of the court,  https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/court-appeals/opinions/2024/09/27/robyn-h-hurvitz-v-whiskey-barrel-trading-company-llc-et-al

Sheriff Jones refers to local drug dealers as "Our Guys" ...watch the chubby cop in back

Sheriff Tommy Jones refers to local drug dealers as "our guys" -- it shows the symbiotic relationship that often exists between criminals and law enforcement. A while back, Tommy's father Constable Tommy Jones Sr. was arrested by the TBI for sale of narcotics, see video below: he told the news reporter that he 'shouldn't comment' (although he did) and wasn't really worried, that the 'lawyer' would take care of it. Referring to local drug dealers as "our guys" suggests a few things about that symbiotic relationship. 

Undercover 'drug buyers' or 'protected drug dealers/users' ...It may have been another 'slip of the tongue' and likely gone unnoticed by most--but it's a very incisive observation about the complex and often murky relationship that can exist between certain elements of law enforcement and the criminal underworld.

1. Maintaining Equilibrium (The "Devil You Know"): In some cases, authorities might prefer a known, somewhat predictable drug dealer (or low-level operator) over the chaos that could ensue if a power vacuum opened up, leading to turf wars or the entry of a more violent organization. They become "their guys" because they are part of a manageable, albeit illegal, status quo.

2. Corruption or Collusion: On the darkest end of the spectrum, the phrase could point to outright corruption, where officers are actively protecting or benefiting from the criminal enterprise.

3. Informant Network/Control: The phrase implies that these specific criminals are known and perhaps tolerated or even utilized as informants. Law enforcement might see them as "their guys" because they provide information on larger, more dangerous operations or rival criminal groups.

This kind of statement highlights the ethical gray areas and the practical realities that can challenge the idealized view of law enforcement simply eradicating crime. The "symbiotic" element is that the criminals (the dealers) provide a service (information, stability), and law enforcement provides a service (protection, tolerance) in return.

Sheriff Jones Grills Medical Examiner then 'facebooks it' --does it influence the jury pool?

Sheriff Tommy Jones was in a 'meltdown mode' since the grand jury indictments were announced naming several MCSD staff members on 9/3/2025 over the homicide of Pastor Lester Isbill. 

It is not in a local sheriff's official capacity to call and lodge a litany of questions to a medical examiner-as shown on several news sites.

The legal proceeding has now become "tainted" and the entire process has been compromised.

In the United States, there have been documented instances where law enforcement agencies or individual officers have been accused of influencing or interfering with homicide investigations. These cases often involve police misconduct, corruption, or a deliberate effort to protect officers from prosecution.

"The administration of justice is sacred" the legal and judicial systems are not just a set of rules, but something to be revered and protected. Posting intimate details in several news outlets of a private conversation he had with the Medical Examiner...? It may be the biggest blunder of his career--In Tennessee, a public official who overtly tries to influence a jury pool could face a combination of criminal charges and other legal penalties. 

This WBIR link  details the Q and A, but bear in mind it is a transcription, which can be be slanted and falsified--not an audio recording. You can bet that if it really did happen Jones and his handlers made an audio recording of the alleged conversation. ...It starts with "During a recent phone call I had with Dr. Suzuki, the pathologist who performed Mr. Isbill’s autopsy, from the Regional Forensic Center in Knox County.

Official Misconduct: This is a serious charge specifically for public servants. Under Tennessee Code Ann. § 39-16-402, a public servant commits this offense if, with intent to gain a benefit or harm another, they intentionally or knowingly:

• Commit an act related to their office that is an unauthorized exercise of official power.

• Commit an act under color of office that exceeds their official power.

• Penalty: This is a Class E felony. A conviction can also lead to the official being removed from office and disqualified from holding any office in the state in the future.

A Coroner's determination is not a criminal verdict--police officers can and do ask questions and present evidence to a coroner, they cannot legally compel a coroner to change their finding. The coroner's decision is based on their own medical and investigative findings, which may include an autopsy.

Not a Mensa member

A sheriff should not "grill" a forensic investigator because the sheriff's role is administrative, not investigative. A forensic investigator's job is to provide objective scientific analysis, and their findings are used by prosecutors to build a case. 

If anyone is going to question the forensic investigator, it would be a prosecutor or a defense attorney in a court of law—not a sheriff. This is to ensure the integrity of the evidence and the legal process.This happens under oath in court. The defense attorney then has a chance to cross-examine the investigator.

The core of the issue is the potential for prejudicial publicity. When a high-ranking public official like a sheriff makes public statements about an ongoing investigation, it can:

• Taint the jury pool: Potential jurors may form an opinion on the case based on the sheriff's public statements, making it difficult to seat an unbiased jury.

• Influence witnesses: Witnesses, including the coroner, might feel pressured to align their testimony with the narrative presented by the sheriff.

• Create a perception of guilt or innocence: Public officials can unintentionally or intentionally create a public perception before a defendant is even formally charged or convicted.

• Law enforcement agencies, including a sheriff's office, typically have policies governing public statements about ongoing investigations. These policies are designed to balance the public's right to information with the defendant's right to a fair trial. A sheriff's public statements should be limited to factual, non-prejudicial information.

 

Pastor Isbill Needed Medical Attention: Officer Finger 'Flipped him the Bird'

Update: 9/4/2025 Grand Jury Indictments unsealed--Several MCSD employees named--charges include criminal negligent homicide and false reporting. More on WBIR. 

Never before seen--Tommy is seemingly waging a debate on Facebook with the Forensic Pathologist and the District Attorney...Friends advise him to cease-and-desist, it may lead to another charge.

Former head of detectives Travis Jones on MSNBC video cited lack of training for MCSD bungling the McClancy death investigation.

Back-to-back scandals for MCSD Sheriff Tommy Jones. Will he resign or keep his hat in the ring for a fourth term in 2026?

The death of Pastor Lester Isbill and the Alijah Kensinger Missing Child Alert both cases have elements of a 'cover up'...but all are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.

 

Pastor Lester Isbill Death Now a Homicide

District Attorney Stephen Hatchett, who represents the state’s Tenth Judicial District, said he plans to take action soon, saying: “I believe this updated autopsy is a more accurate finding based upon all of the known facts, and I intend to present the entire file to the Grand Jury for their consideration.”

MCSD Deputy Jason Fillyaw 'Tommy's Waterboy' played key role in the Missing Child Alert Scandal

Archived news-clip page shows MCSD Jason Fillyaw was the chief propagandist  in the Alijah Kensinger Missing Child Alert.

A propagandist is an individual who holds a prominent role in directing, orchestrating, and crafting messages designed to influence public opinion and behavior.

* Alijah was found around 7:30 PM the evening of the search, according to a witness that lives near where he was staying with his grandmother. If so, the search lasted about 3 hours not 19 hours--who benefited by faking the search late into the next morning...? and were state and federal laws violated...look up the penalties/offenses for transmitting false information during an emergency.

 A gathered crowd of close to 200 people stayed put at the Coker Creek School over-night: which included news media and local residents--it was an all-night vigil eagerly waiting for news on the missing child alert--overnight temps were in the F-30's.

Alijah's mother who flew in on red-eye flight from Colorado the following morning spoke to reporter Kyle Grainger and other reporters...the mother was in shock thinking her boy may have been killed by a bear or other predators--but who knew and who is responsible for the torment caused on Alijah's relatives not knowing the child had been found the previous night--where was Alijah kept overnight, how many people knew...?

Eric, the owner of Fine Communications, revealed on June 7th that Alijah was found on the night the search began, not 19 hours later--since then, several high-profile witnesses have affirmed that the news story was manipulated for political reasons.

EMS Director Randy White was running for sheriff against the incumbent Tommy Jones--All standard protocol was violated so Randy White would not be in the spotlight of the event.

Several federal and state laws were violated in what became known as a 2 day 'theater of the absurd' -- this and the recent death of Pastor Lester Isbill will likely have a significant impact on the 2026 sheriff's election.