Former Unicoi County Sheriff Kent Harris, Who’s Charged With Theft Over A Thousand Dollars, Took The Stand In His Defense On Thursday. The Defense Is Presenting Its Side In The Retrial Of Harris. It’s Alleged Harris Pocketed 45-Hundred Dollars In County Funds For Two Vehicles That Were Donated To The Sheriff’s Office. Harris Denies Any Wrongdoing And Feels Justice Will Be Served. A Verdict Could Come Today.
One Of The Suspects Wanted In Connection With A Man Found Dead In His Surgoinsville Home Earlier This Year Who Were On The Run Is Now In Police Custody In Florida. 49 Year Old Randy Harr Was Apprehended yesterday in a wooded area In Gainesville, Florida. Harr, along with 40 Year Old Lisa Harr, His Ex-Wife, Were Indicted This Week In The Death Of Christopher Varalli Who’s Body Was Found Inside His Home On George Allen Road On March 20th. An Autopsy Revealed Cyanide Was Present In Varalli’s System. Randy Harr Is Charged With First Degree Murder, Aggravated Burglary And Aggravated Arson. His Wife Lisa, Who’s Believed To Be On The Lam In New York, Is Facing Tampering Charges. Investigators Believe The Victim Was Shot To Death And The Fire Was Set To Cover Up The Crime. Meanwhile, A Third Suspect, James Anthony Hall, Is Facing A Hindering With A Police Investigation Charge. He’s Currently In The Sullivan County Jail On Unrelated Charges.
A Trial Date Has Been Set In U.S. District Court In Greeneville Concerning A Lawsuit Against Sullivan County, Sheriff Wayne Anderson And Sheriff’s Employees Regarding An Incident That Caused A Mobile Home To Catch Fire. Margaret Spradlin And Her Daughter, Shirley Brewer, Filed The 1.5 Million Dollar Suit In U.S. District Court In Greeneville In April. The Suit Stems From A Standoff That Took Place While Authorities Were Trying To Capture Junior Spradlin Who Was Wanted For Murder In Virginia. Tear Gas Canisters Thrown Into The Home Allegedly Sparked A Blaze Which Destroyed It. A Trial Date Is Set For January 21st 2014.
Sullivan County Authorities Are Investigating A Shooting At A Sullivan County Trailer Park In Blountville That May Have Started Over Rent Dispute And Resulted In One Person Taken To The Hospital. Sheriff’s Deputies Responded To Shipley Ferry Road Around Nine Thirty Wednesday Night. Upon Arrival, Deputies Made Contact With Charles Gibson Who Told Them He Had Been Shot In The Abdomen By Ron Zimmerman. Zimmerman Is The Property Manager. Sheriff’s Spokeswoman Leslie Earhart Said Zimmerman Was Taken Into Custody For Questioning And Later Released. The Investigation Is Ongoing And Charges Are Pending. No Arrests Have Been Made.
A Sullivan County Grand Jury Has Indicted A Blountville Man On Charges Involving An Adult. 65 Year Old Jimmy Roger Brown Is Charged With Willful Abuse, Neglect, Or Exploitation Of An Adult. The Charges Stem From An Investigation That Began After Adult Protective Services Received A Report That Brown Was Not Properly Caring For His 86-Year Old Mother. It Was Discovered That The Victim Was Suffering From Malnutrition And Dehydration. She Was Also Not Being Given Her Medication, And Brown Had Allegedly Been Using The Victim’s Money For Purposes Other Than Her Care. Brown Is Free On A 20-Thousand Dollar Bond And Will Appear Soon In Court.
Bristol Virginia Leaders Have Approved A Resolution They Say Will Move Ahead A Retail Development Project At Exit Five. Initial Plans For The Falls Development Were Announced In August And Coincided With The News From Outdoor Outfitter Giant, Cabel’s, Of Their Intention To Locate Their First Virginia Store In Bristol. City Manager Dewey Cashwell Said The Project When Completed Will House 1.47 Million Square Feet Of Retail Space And Garner Over 500 Million Dollars In Sales.
The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office Auxillary Will Host The 11th Annual Toys From Cops Event This Weekend. The Toy Drive Will Be Held At The Old Food City Building On Highway 126 In Blountville. On Saturday, The Event Is Open From Nine Am To Three Pm By Invitation Only. On Sunday, It’s Open To The Public During The Same Hours. The Event Is Made Possible Through Donations From The Community And Local Businesses. The Goal Is To Make Sure All Sullivan County Children Have A Merry Christmas.
AAA Projects 93.3 Million Americans Will Journey 50 Miles Or More From Home During The Year-End Holidays. That’s An Increase Of 1.6 Percent Over The 91.8 Million Who Traveled Last Year. AAA Estimates The National Average Price Of Gasoline Will Slowly Drop Through The End Of The Year And Average Between $3.20 To $3.40 A Gallon By New Year’s Day. While The Agency Doesn’t Expect Gas Prices To Have A Major Impact On Travel Volume, Consumers Could Have More Money To Spend On Holiday Shopping, Dining, And Entertainment If Prices Drop Through December As Expected.
One Person Is In Jail And Another Is In The Hospital Following A Dispute Between A Landlord And Tenant. It Happened Last Night Around Nine Thirty At A Home On Shipley Ferry Road. An Unnamed Man Was Transported To The Hospital With A Gunshot Wound To The Abdomen. The Circumstances Surrounding The Shooting Is Still Under Investigation. While The Alleged Shooter Was Being Interviewed Last Night, No Charges Have Been Filed At This Time. More Information Is Expected To Be Released Later Today.
The Defense Will Begin Presenting Its Side In The Retrial Of Former Unicoi County Sheriff Kent Harris. He’s Charged With Theft Over A Thousand. The State Rested Its Case Yesterday As The Trial Heads Into A Fourth Day. It’s Alleged Harris Pocketed 45-Hundred Dollars In County Funds For Two Vehicles That Were Donated To The Sheriff’s Office. Harris Denies Any Wrongdoing And Feels Justice Will Be Served. The Trial Resumes This Morning At Nine O’clock.
The Johnson City Power Board Will Have A New Leader Next Month. Jeff Dykes Will Take Over As President And CEO For The Utility. Dykes Is A Native Of Elizabethton And Was Chosen In November To Lead The Power Board. He’s Leaving His Post At Nearby Newport Utilities Where He Serves As General Manager.