THE HATCHETT-RUSH PARTNERSHIP & THE BRIAN "WORMY" HODGE PROSECUTION

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: January 13, 2026 LOCATION: 10th Judicial District (Bradley, McMinn, Monroe, and Polk Counties)

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OVERVIEW

The current leadership of the 10th Judicial District District Attorney’s Office faces significant legal and ethical scrutiny.  The partnership between District Attorney General Stephen Hatchett and his hand-picked ADA,  Paul Rush, may appear to some as inheriting and perpetuating the "administrative track record" of the Steve Bebb era—a period characterized by the protection of law enforcement and the public dismissal of crime victims.

POINT 1: THE "HATCHETT ATTACK" VIDEO (2014)

• The Evidence: A televised news interview features Stephen Hatchett (then Chief Deputy under Bebb) attacking the credibility of an alleged crime victim, ADA Cindy Schemel, before any investigation into her assault allegations against Bebb had concluded.

• The Present-Day Link:  Hatchett’s documented habit of labeling victim allegations as "just politics" creates a direct conflict in the Brian "Wormy" Hodge case.  Hodge, a former Monroe County reserve deputy, is currently facing sexual battery charges. Critics argue Hatchett cannot impartially prosecute a former deputy when his own record shows a history of shielding law enforcement "bosses" by discrediting their accusers.

POINT 2: THE "GOLDEN BOY" ADA PAUL RUSH (DISCIPLINARY HISTORY)

• The Evidence: Despite being rejected by nearly 70% of local voters in a recent judicial bid, Paul Rush was appointed by Hatchett as a lead ADA in September 2024.

• The Censure: Rush was publicly censured by the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility (TBPR) for intentionally withholding exculpatory evidence from the defense in a previous criminal case.

• The Present-Day Link: Entrusting the "Wormy" Hodge prosecution to an ADA with a history of suppressing evidence risks a massive waste of taxpayer funds.  Any verdict reached could be easily challenged or overturned due to the office’s lack of discovery integrity.

  
  
  

POINT 3: THE NEED FOR OUTSIDE PROSECUTION AND VENUE

• The Argument:  To ensure a fair trial for both the victim and the state, the Hodge case should be removed from the 10th District entirely.

• Neutral Venue:  Moving the case to a different venue separates the proceedings from the dense political web and local "loyalty culture" of the Bebb-Hatchett lineage.

• Institutional Recusal:  The combined history of Hatchett (attacking victims) and Rush (suppressing evidence) suggests that the conflict is not individual, but office-wide, necessitating the appointment of an outside prosecutor (Pro Tem) to ensure the standard of justice is met.

• Public Perception:  In the "Bible Belt" region where family values are paramount, Hatchett's defense of a man accused of using the DA's office to subvert custody battles for friends is a significant point of contention.  The "Hatchett Method": This early instance of Hatchett dismissing serious allegations as "just politics" establishes a pattern.  For those following prior cases, it suggests that his first instinct as a prosecutor may be to protect the "administrative track record" of the office rather than investigate the claims of victims.

• The Pension Preservation:  The fact that Bebb resigned early to save his pension is a well-known local detail that reinforces the "good old boy" narrative. Hatchett’s televised defense of Bebb during that same period is often viewed as his "loyalty test" that helped launch his own political career.  This context reinforces the point:  if the leader of the office (Hatchett) has a history of publicly discrediting victims and spinning the circumstances of high-level corruption,  then the integrity of current sensitive cases—especially when handled by an ADA like Paul Rush with his own disciplinary record—is naturally called into question.

Sheriff Jones was Willing to Hire an Individual Accused of Soliciting a Witness to Lie to the FBI

Case No: 24282-CRM | State of Tennessee v. Brian Keith "Wormy" Hodge

TO: The Honorable Andrew Freiberg
Subject: Persistent Pattern of Impropriety

This letter serves as a formal demand for your voluntary recusal from Case 24282-CRM. Under the mandatory standards of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 10, Canon 2.11, your continued adjudication of this matter presents a significant conflict of interest based on the following:

1. Deep-Rooted Conflict of Interest: This Court is well aware that the Defendant, Brian Keith Hodge, is a former reserve deputy and a long-standing political operative for the Monroe County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) hierarchy. Mr. Hodge’s history of "dirty politics"—including his federal conviction for buying votes to secure the Sheriff’s seat for your political circle's preferred candidate—demonstrates a relationship that is neither casual nor distant.

2. Pattern of Favoritism for the Jones Family: The appearance of bias is compounded by Your Honor’s prior dismissal of felony charges against Tommy Jones Sr., the patriarch of the very administration Mr. Hodge was considered for employment as a reserve deputy and operative. The public cannot be expected to believe that a judge who cleared the legal path for the "boss" (Jones Sr.) can impartially adjudicate the "operative" (Hodge).

3. Impossible Claim of Remoteness: It is impossible for the Court to claim the relationship between Judge Freiberg and the Defendant is "too remote" for recusal. Brian Keith "Wormy" Hodge was effectively a "soldier" for the very administration (Jones/White) that Judge Freiberg has favored in the past—most notably through his dismissal of felony charges against Tommy Jones Sr.

4. Drawn Out Proceedings: The indictment for Sexual Battery (Case 24282-CRM) has been drawn out for 16 months. Maintaining this case at a standstill until the February 24, 2026 docket—and potentially beyond the May 5th Primary—serves as a de facto political favor to the MCSO, keeping the Defendant’s trial testimony out of the public record during an election cycle.

5. Public Advocacy by Sheriff Jones:  In April 2017, while Brian Keith "Wormy" Hodge was under federal indictment for vote-buying, Sheriff Tommy Jones personally testified on Hodge's behalf before U.S. Magistrate Judge Clifford Shirley.Attempt to Subvert Firearms Ban:  Sheriff Jones lobbied the federal court to lift the firearm restriction on Hodge so that he could immediately place Hodge on the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office payroll (specifically to work in the jail and operate a cruiser).

6. Judicial Rejection:  The federal court denied the request, with Judge Shirley noting that the Sheriff was willing to hire an individual who was not only under indictment but accused of soliciting a witness to lie to the FBI.

7. The Conclusion:  This 2017 squabble proves that Hodge is a protected asset of the Jones administration. Because Judge Freiberg has already granted the "boss" (Tommy Jones Sr.) a felony dismissal, he cannot impartially adjudicate the "soldier" (Hodge) whom the Sheriff has historically gone to great lengths to protect.

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.