Information from WYSH Radio
Two brothers who were tried twice but never convicted in the 2006 shooting deaths of a Roane County Sheriff’s Department deputy and his ridealong partner are now facing federal charges.
Rocky and Leon Houston were both arrested Friday on federal firearms charges at the family’s home in the Ten Mile community after agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Roane County Sheriff’s Office; and other agencies executed search and arrest warrants.
U.S. Attorney Bill Killian says that Rocky Houston is charged with being a convicted felon in possession of firearms and that Leon Houston is charged with possession of firearms while being an unlawful user of controlled substances.
The ATF began investigating reports that Rocky Houston was in possession of guns last year and, in October, installed a hidden camera on top of a utility pole near the property that captured several images of Rocky carrying weapons.
When agents came to the house on Friday, Leon Houston came riding up on a four-wheeler armed with three loaded guns, and he was arrested after admitting that he had been drinking and smoking marijuana. During their first court appearances Monday, U.S. Magistrate Bruce Guyton set a Friday detention hearing for Leon Houston to decide if he will remain behind bars until his trial.
Guyton did not set a detention hearing for Rocky Houston, who disrupted court on several occasions, and he was sent back to jail.
If convicted of the charges against them, each brother could face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
This story brought to you through an agreement between Oak Ridge Today and WYSH. See more local news headlines on the WYSH website at http://www.wyshradio.com/local_news.html.
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