Judicial Conflict Concern: Judge Andrew Freiberg

A developing judicial ethics crisis in Monroe County has significant implications for the upcoming 2026 Sheriff’s Election.

A sexual battery indictment against Brian "Wormy" Hodge (a key member of the "3 Amigos" and associate of Sheriff Tommy Jones) is being adjudicated in Judge Andrew Freiberg’s court.

Recent developments have moved this from a local issue to a matter of statewide concern: 

Under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 10, Canon 2.11, a judge must disqualify themselves in any proceeding in which their "impartiality might reasonably be questioned." > "When a judge has a history of clearing the Sheriff’s family and then presides over a felony case involving the Sheriff’s 'best friend' ... that judge’s impartiality isn't just questioned—it’s compromised."

• The "Family Favor" That Won't Go Away

  

  
  

  The public outcry centers on one question: Why won’t Judge Freiberg recuse himself? Court records show that Freiberg is the same judge who famously presided over the case of Tommy Jones, Sr. (the Sheriff's father), which ended in the dismissal of eight felony counts, including drug delivery and official misconduct.

  Now, the same judge is presiding over one of the Sheriff’s closest political allies, "Wormy" Hodge. The optics are undeniable:

  • The Judge: Dismissed felonies for the Sheriff’s father.

  • The Defendant: A "Three Amigos" associate of the Sheriff.

  • The Goal: Keep the trial out of the headlines until the May 5th Primary is over

•  Tennessee Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 1 (Integrity/Impartiality) and Canon 2 (Rule 2.11 - Disqualification).

• 1. Prior Relationship: Judge Freiberg presided over the criminal case of Tommy Joe Jones, Sr. (father of Monroe County Sheriff Tommy Jones), resulting in the dismissal of eight felony counts. This history creates a reasonable question of impartiality regarding the Sheriff’s associates.
  2. If Judge Freiberg used the same tactics AGAIN--blaming the DA while the trial dates slip further into 2026, critics argue the court is granting Sheriff Tommy Jones a "political shield."  If the "Three Amigos"—Jones, Hodge, and Randy White—can successfully kick this case past the May election, they effectively rob Monroe County voters of their right to know the truth before they cast their ballots.
  3.  Election Interference: By allowing delays, the Court would prevent the public from seeing evidence in a high-profile case involving a Sheriff's associate prior to the May 5, 2026 election.  The appearance of a 'judicial shield' for the 10th District’s political elite is a direct threat to the integrity of the judiciary."
  
  
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  Despite facing several felony charges in March of 2014, Monroe County TN Constable Tommy Jones Sr. won re-election before his case went to trial...if you are wondering whether justice was served, all the charges were dismissed and he remained in his elected constable position...As of 2026 he is R.I.P.
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  The presiding judge Andrew Freiberg pointed the finger at the DA's office for taking too long to bring the case to trial, and the DA's office claimed they had been ready all along.

  Regardless of where the blame lies for Tommy Jones Senior not having to answer to the serious felony charges; one can only imagine the difficulty involved in the district attorney's office prosecuting Monroe County TN Sheriff Tommy Jones' father--had Daddy Jones been prosecuted, it may have created a 'humbug chaos' with other pending criminal cases: deputies not showing up for court, contraband being lost or mishandled, and other obstructionist tricks and tactics...simply put, it could have been a worst case scenario for the legal system. 

  Seen here during a video interview admitting that... "he shouldn't comment" -- Even those who should know better than to make public comments during pending litigation often make incriminating remarks.

Sheriff Tommy Jones Slumbers While the County Teeters on Ruin

The "Watch List" of court dates for the Isbill case is now the most-read document in the county. 

To the residents, every hearing represents a ticking clock. They see a sheriff who remains in power while the people who followed his department's culture face criminal charges—and the taxpayers are the ones expected to foot the bill for the inevitable civil "monetary damages."

Sheriff Jones, a man once known for his folksy charm, now appears increasingly out of touch. His public statements often downplay the severity of the situation, attributing the complaints to

No Problem, I Got This

"a few bad apples" or "political maneuvering."

 

Tales of unanswered calls, dismissive attitudes, and a general feeling that the sheriff's department is more concerned with its own internal politics than with protecting and serving the community.

One particularly damning report surfaced from a former deputy who, under condition of anonymity, revealed a culture of impunity within the department. He spoke of inadequate training, a lack of disciplinary action for serious infractions, and the sheriff's tendency to promote loyalty over competence. "It's a ticking time bomb," the former deputy had said, "and Monroe County is going to pay the price."

The consensus at the local diners is grim: if the lawsuits don't bankrupt the county first, the property tax increases required to pay for the "misconduct insurance" surely will.  Sheriff Tommy Jones recently avoided a direct indictment from the grand jury regarding the death of Lester Isbill, but the "no true bill" for the man at the top didn't stop the bleeding for the county. 

The haunting details of Isbill’s final nine hours—restrained in a chair, denied water, and left with a hood over his head—have paved a clear path for civil litigation. In a small county, a multi-million dollar civil rights settlement isn't just a line item; it’s a potential bankruptcy trigger.

The 3 Amigos: The $4 Million Crack in the "Teflon" Sheriff’s Shield

In the high-stakes theater of Monroe County politics, the "3 Amigos" have spent decades mastering the art of the narrow escape. But as the 2026 election cycle ignites, the taxpayer's checkbook is finally telling the story that Sheriff Tommy Jones tried to bury. 

To understand the current crisis, one must understand the brotherhood that has gripped Monroe County’s throat for over a decade. They are a trio bound by loyalty, scandals, and an uncanny ability to survive administrative wreckage:  Who are the "3 Amigos"?

• Tommy Jones (The Teflon): The "luckiest" of the bunch. He rose from a humble double-wide trailer to a million-dollar mansion in a gated community, avoiding the legal shrapnel that hit his partners.
• Randy White (The Tethered): The man who won the Sheriff’s seat in 2014 only to be disqualified by a judge. Now the EMS Director, Randy is rumored to be bound by a "blood promise" to Mayor Mitch Ingram never to leave his post to run for Sheriff again.
• Keith "Wormy" Hodge (The Target): The operative who took the fall for the 2014 vote-buying scandal.

• Today, Wormy faces his darkest chapter yet: an indictment for rape allegations involving an incident at The Madisonville EMS Station—the very department overseen by his fellow "Amigo," Randy White. 

• As of April 21, 2025, the Hodge case (Number: 24282CRM) was still active in the Monroe County Circuit Court. According to the court docket:

• Current Stage: The case was listed for a Plea/Assignment hearing.

• Status: This stage typically involves the defendant either entering a plea or the court setting a future trial date. Update: Trial Date set for 2/24/2026

• Representation: Hodge is represented by attorney Robert L. Jolley, Jr

Nothing exposes the "Amigo" double standard like the case of Josh Woods. In Tommy Jones' Monroe, loyalty is a one-way street reserved only for the inner circle.

• The Veteran: Woods gave 17 years of his life to the badge, maintaining a spotless record.

• The Axe: In late 2025, following an off-duty DUI, Woods was immediately fired.

• The Bite: While "Wormy" Hodge was protected through years of scandals, a career deputy was cast aside in a heartbeat. This summary firing—denying a nearly two-decade employee the 14th Amendment due process hearings afforded to political allies—sets the stage for a wrongful termination suit that could bankrupt the county further.

The "Amigo Tax" is no longer a metaphor; it is a line item in a failing budget. The taxpayer is bleeding for the brotherhood's mistakes:

1. The McCreary Verdict ($2.25 Million): A jury recently slammed the county with a multi-million dollar judgment for the death of Joshua McCreary, who was denied life-saving medication. $250,000 was ripped directly from the county’s fund balance—money for your kids’ schools and your neighborhood roads, gone.

2. The Ghost of Lester Isbill: 74 years old. Strapped to a restraint chair for nine hours. Dead.
3.  With seven former employees indicted for homicide, the civil lawsuit "around the corner" is a ticking time bomb. The Knox County Forensic Center reclassified the death as a homicide, and the settlement will likely be the largest in Monroe history.

Tennessee False Emergency Alert Law--Missing Juvenile Alert Still Active Weeks After Child Found

In Tennessee, the act of intentionally continuing to circulate an alert for a child like Kayla Sherwood after the emergency has been resolved falls under the strict guidelines of Tennessee Code § 39-16-502, which deals with False Reports.

Continuing to promote a "resolved" emergency is generally prosecuted under the "Emergency" provision of the statute, which carries significantly heavier penalties than standard false statements.

When a legal violation like Intentionally Circulating a False Report (TN Code § 39-16-502) is tied to an election season publicity stunt, the legal and political stakes escalate from a criminal offense to a matter of election integrity and public corruption.

In Tennessee, using a false emergency (like a missing child alert) to manipulate public perception during a campaign is viewed as a severe breach of the public trust.

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Compounding Criminal Charges: Official Misconduct
If the person circulating the false report is a public official or candidate seeking to gain an advantage, they face additional charges under TN Code § 39-16-402 (Official Misconduct).
The Violation: Acts committed "under color of office" to receive a benefit or harm another.
The Penalty: This is a Class E felony, which can result in the permanent forfeiture of the right to hold public office in Tennessee.