Brian Galloway
Russell Barker, who will be sworn in as Anderson County sheriff on September 1, has named his chief deputy and jail administrator.
Brian Galloway will serve as chief deputy, and Richard Parker will serve as jail administrator.
Galloway will replace Mark Lucas, who is retiring August 31 after losing to Barker in the race for sheriff in the August 2 general election in Anderson County.
Parker will replace the current jail administrator, Avery Johnson. [Read more…]
Damian Vincent Reynolds
A Wartburg man who allegedly walked out of the Anderson County jail after standing in line with other inmates who were being released from the booking area has been arrested and charged with escape.
Damian V. Reynolds, 39, was brought to the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton from Morgan County at about 6:33 p.m. Wednesday, July 11. He was standing in the booking area in his civilian clothes, and several other inmates were being booked out, according to an affidavit filed in Anderson County General Session Court, Division I, in Clinton.
Reynolds stood in line with those other inmates who were being released and proceeded to walk out the jail door without being released, the affidavit said. [Read more…]
Twenty-nine candidates have qualified to run for 16 seats on the Anderson County Commission in the county general election in August.
There are also three people running for the Tennessee House of Representatives in District 33, a new appointed Oak Ridge school board member running in a special election in August, and a Democratic challenger to Tennessee Senator Randy McNally, an Oak Ridge resident who is also lieutenant governor.
The deadline to qualify to run in the August 2 election, which will also feature contested elections for Anderson County sheriff and trustee, was noon Thursday.
Anderson County has eight County Commission districts, and there are two commissioners per district. The offices are non-partisan, meaning that, unlike some other county offices, they are not part of the Democratic and Republican primary elections on May 1. [Read more…]
Anderson County Chief Jailer Avery Johnson, second from right, is pictured above with Sheriff Paul White, right; Chief Deputy Mark Lucas, second from left; and Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally. (Submitted photo)
Anderson County Chief Jailer Avery Johnson was recently presented the Jail Administrator of the Year award by the Tennessee Corrections Institute, or TCI.
The Tennessee Corrections Institute is the state agency that regulates local jails and workhouses. The award was presented at the annual TCI Jail Issues Conference in Franklin, Tennessee.
Also attending the award ceremony were Anderson County Sheriff Paul White, Chief Deputy Mark Lucas, Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, and Johnson’s wife Diane with other family members.
The Jail Administrator of the Year award is awarded to a worthy candidate who must be a full-time jail administrator responsible for operations within a local correctional facility, a press release said. The nominee must have demonstrated a high level of professionalism and dedication in the area of corrections within the agency and community. They must have initiated or promoted programs enhancing the operations of a correctional facility within the State of Tennessee. They must also have contributed toward the overall mission of TCI in working to develop a professional corrections environment for today and tomorrow.
Chief Jailer Avery Johnson began his career with the Anderson County Sheriff Department in February 1981. [Read more…]
Anderson County Law Director Jay Yeager, left, the defendant in an ouster suit filed by a group of residents, is pictured with Lynn Byrge, one of the petitioners, during a Monday morning Anderson County Commission meeting.
Note: This story was last updated at 10:06 a.m. July 22.
CLINTON—The legal fees in a few high-profile disputes between top Anderson County officials could approach a half-million dollars, and Anderson County commissioners should all seek their own legal counsel in an ouster lawsuit filed against the law director, stunned commissioners were told Monday.
Subpoenas have already been issued in the ouster suit, and several officials, including a few County Commissioners, have reportedly received letters asking them to waive their attorney-client privilege.
Anderson County Commissioner Myron Iwanski, who is former interim mayor, said some of the records he’s been asked to provide go back 10 years, and some of them are personnel records. Iwanski said he needs legal representation because he doesn’t want to disclose anything improper, a mistake that could lead to another lawsuit.
“It’s about trying to do what’s right for the county,†Iwanski said.
He said former Anderson County Jail Administrator Avery Johnson has also been served with a subpoena and will need legal representation.
“This is just the start of the legal battle,†Iwanski said. [Read more…]
Twenty-two Anderson County residents have filed a petition in Chancery Court seeking to remove Law Director Jay Yeager from office, alleging misconduct that includes perjury, forgery, and having pornography on a county computer.
The ouster petition was filed Friday afternoon in Anderson County Chancery Court in Clinton. It alleges Yeager, who became law director in September 2006, committed perjury on his sworn application to become law director eight years ago, forged the signature of retired Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Capt. Avery Johnson two years ago, and had a pornographic image on a county computer that was found about three years ago.
The petition asks the court to immediately suspend Yeager from his official duties pending a decision by the court, and it requests a trial. If Yeager is guilty of one or more of the charges, the petition said, he should be ousted from office.
“I’m devastated,†Yeager said Friday evening. “It’s just another assassination on my character and on my good reputation and all I’ve done for Anderson County.â€
He said he thinks the ouster suit is politically motivated, and he called it “baseless and unwarranted.†[Read more…]
Chief Jailer Avery Johnson, center, has retired after working for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department for almost 33 years. Also pictured are Anderson County Sheriff Paul White, right, and Chief Deputy Mark Lucas. (Submitted photo)
Chief Jailer Avery Johnson has retired after working for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department for almost 33 years.
Anderson County Sheriff Paul White announced the retirement this week.
Johnson began his career with the department in February 1981, a press release said. After working in patrol, Johnson was assigned to the jail, and he was promoted to sergeant in charge of the jail operations in March of 1984. As the responsibilities of the jail operations increased, Johnson was promoted through the ranks of lieutenant, captain, and later, chief jailer. [Read more…]
The Anderson County Commission on Monday approved three new sets of fees for inmates, including charges for supplies ranging for pants and shirts to toothpaste and toilet paper. (Photo courtesy Anderson County Sheriff’s Department)
CLINTON—Anderson County inmates could soon pay for items such as pants and shirts, bras and underwear, and toothpaste and toilet paper, with costs ranging from three cents for soap to $24.65 for a coat.
The new fees were approved with no opposition by the Anderson County Commission on Monday. The money would be deducted from the inmate’s jail trust account or any other account or fund set up for the prisoner. The fees would not be added to court costs.
The supply fees were one of three new sets of inmate fees approved by commissioners on Monday. [Read more…]
