Tre Hargett
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett will present a $4,000 archives grant in Anderson County on Friday.
The grant, distributed through the Tennessee State Library and Archives, will fund development of the Anderson County Archives, a media advisory said.
“The Anderson County Archives will receive a $4,000 Archives Development Grant to preserve court documents,” the advisory said. [Read more…]
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, that a year-long investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation resulted in a 320-count indictment, and 10 people were arrested, including seven Anderson County residents, on charges of unlawfully filing liens and making false entries into records. (Photo courtesy TBI)
A recent 320-count indictment and the arrests of 10 people after a joint investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Knoxville Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation highlight an ongoing problem with fraudulent liens, state officials said Friday. Seven of those arrested live in Anderson County.
“People are filing fraudulent liens with the Division of Business Services, which can ruin the lives of public officials,” according to the office of Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “Luckily, Senate Bill 726/House Bill 535, currently before the General Assembly, would allow officials to permanently remove fraudulent liens from the filing record.”
The arrests on Wednesday send a clear message, the Secretary of Office said. (See our story on the indictments and arrests here.)
“Public officials as well as state and local government employees shouldn’t be harassed with fraudulent liens just for doing their jobs,” Hargett said. “We believe this will provide an expedited and uncomplicated remedy to this targeted abuse. Additionally, since legal costs associated with this process can be recovered under this legislation, fraudulent filers should think twice before they file.” [Read more…]
Lee H. Cromwell, the Oak Ridge man convicted of vehicular homicide and aggravated assault on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017, has filed $137 million in liens against local law enforcement officials and agencies, as well as against the Internal Revenue Service and a Social Security service center, according to state records. Cromwell, who was convicted after a fatal parking lot crash at the Midtown Community Center after fireworks in Oak Ridge on July 4, 2015, is pictured above during a preliminary hearing in Anderson County General Sessions Court on Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Note: This story was last updated at 12:15 p.m. Feb. 17.
Lee Harold Cromwell, the Oak Ridge man convicted of vehicular homicide and aggravated assault on Wednesday, has filed $137 million in liens against local law enforcement officials and agencies, as well as against the Internal Revenue Service and a Social Security service center, according to state records.
Cromwell has been indicted by a grand jury in Davidson County in Nashville on Class A and Class E felonies. Officials announced those indictments after Cromwell was convicted at the end of his vehicular homicide trial in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation elaborated, saying that Cromwell was one of 11 people indicted in a 320-count indictment after a one-year investigation into fraudulent liens in East Tennessee that was conducted with help from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. So far, 10 of the 11 people have been arrested on charges of unlawfully filing liens and making false entries into records, the TBI said. Multiple other state, county, and local law enforcement agencies participated in the arrests on Wednesday.
Seven of those arrested, or more than half of them, are from Anderson County. They claim to be “sovereign citizens,” or people who do not typically “believe that they have to abide by the rules everyone else follows because they have declared their personal independence from government,” said Dave Clark, Anderson County district attorney general.
TBI special agents began their investigation at the request of Clark in May 2016. They were helped by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force. [Read more…]
Lee Cromwell, right, who has been charged with vehicular homicide and 16 other charges after a fatal parking lot crash at Midtown Community Center after fireworks on July 4, 2015, huddles with his family and defense attorney James Scott, left, after an arraignment in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton on Monday, July 25, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Note: This story was updated at 11:47 a.m. July 27.
CLINTON—First the judge recused himself and now the district attorney general’s office has been recused in a homicide case filed against an Oak Ridge man after a fatal crash in the crowded parking lot of Midtown Community Center after fireworks on July 4, 2015.
Both recusals were because of liens filed by the defendant, Lee Harold Cromwell, 66. The recusals mean another judge has already been appointed, and another DA will have to be appointed. A lien is a claim that one person owes something to another person.
Anderson County Criminal Court Judge Donald R. Elledge recused himself during a June 3 arraignment because of an $8 million lien filed against him by Cromwell.
“It was upsetting that he filed a frivolous lien against me,†Elledge said Monday. “I’m going to do everything I can legally, morally, and ethically to prosecute him criminally and civilly to the full extent of the law.â€
Then, during a rescheduled arraignment on Monday, defense attorney James K. Scott asked for Anderson County District Attorney General Dave Clark and the DA’s office to also be recused. That was because of liens that Cromwell filed against the DA and another member of his office in “misplaced mindset†in a “misguided effort, out of desperation, to advocate for his innocence without the knowledge or advice of counsel,†Scott said in a motion to recuse. [Read more…]
Early voting for the August 4 state primary and county general elections is under way. Voting will continue Mondays through Saturdays and end Saturday, July 30.
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett is encouraging voters to take advantage of early voting, which allows people to cast a ballot when it’s convenient for them, a press release said.
“Tennesseans broke records during the March 1 ‘SEC Primary’ by taking advantage of early voting,” Hargett said in the press release. “It will be exciting to see Tennesseans participate in the electoral process this August and November.”
The easiest way for voters to find their early voting and Election Day polling locations, view and mark sample ballots, see their elected officials, districts, and county election commission information as well as access online state and federal election results is through the GoVoteTN app. Voters can download the free app in the App Store or Google Play or visit GoVoteTN.com to view voter specific information. [Read more…]
U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander, left, a Tennessee Republican, campaigns at Dean’s Restaurant and Bakery in Oak Ridge on Wednesday, one day before he beat Tea Party challenger Joe Carr, a state representative from Middle Tennessee, in the seven-candidate GOP primary. Alexander is pictured above with Anderson County Property Assessor Johnny Alley.
Lamar Alexander
Ninth District judicial race close; Supreme Court justices retained
U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander finished far ahead of a Tea Party challenger in the Republican primary on Thursday, and Representative Chuck Fleischmann narrowly beat Weston Wamp, the son of former Congressman Zach Wamp, in the second battle between the two men.
Alexander’s top opponent in the seven-candidate GOP primary was State Representative Joe Carr of Middle Tennessee. Alexander, who lost in his home district of Blount County, had 329,929 votes, compared to 269,883 for Carr, according to unofficial results posted by the Tennessee Secretary of State.
George Flinn, a Memphis radiologist and radio station owner, finished a distant third, with 34,568 votes.
Alexander, a former Tennessee governor and University of Tennessee president, will face Democrat Gordon Ball in the November 4 general election. [Read more…]
The Anderson County Courthouse on Main Street in Clinton is pictured above.
Information from WYSH Radio
Election Day primer
Today is Election Day in Tennessee.
In Anderson County, it is not only state and federal primary day, but it’s also the county general election. All 16 County Commission seats are on the ballot, along with seats on the School Board. This election cycle has been dominated by the high-profile races for county mayor and sheriff, but three judicial races and contested campaigns for Circuit Court clerk and register of deeds will also be decided.
Polls across the county will be open until 8 p.m., and voters are reminded that you must vote at the precinct listed on your voter registration card. Keep in mind, with so many contested local races, judicial and state Supreme Court retention votes, and state and federal primary elections, lines at polling locations could be long, so be patient. If you need a ride to the polls anywhere in Anderson County today, you can call or text Catherine at (865) 230-2594.
To save time in the voting booth, we recommend taking a look at the ballot before you head out to vote. You can find it and a list of all the polling locations on the Anderson County Election Commission’s website. Voters need to bring valid state or federally issued photo IDs to the polls with them. Those who forget to bring valid photo IDs can cast provisional ballots, then return to their local election commission offices before the close of business Monday in order to have their votes counted.
WYSH will broadcast live election results from the courthouse beginning just after the polls close Thursday night. For more election information, including a look at that complete ballot, visit www.acelect.com. You can also call (865) 457-6238 for more information.
State to post statewide, federal election results [Read more…]
Information from WYSH Radio
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett and Rep. John Ragan will be presenting the widow of former Medford Fire Chief Ronnie Braden with a plaque commemorating his service to the community at the Medford Volunteer Fire Department chili supper on Saturday.
The chili supper starts at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Clinch River Baptist Church at 407 Cane Creek Road.
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s office has received inquiries about an official-looking notice from Corporate Records Service. It appears that these notices began arriving in mailboxes around Jan. 22, 2013. Corporate Records Service is not registered, affiliated, or associated with the Tennessee Secretary of State.
The mailer is causing confusion for Tennessee corporations due to its appearance as an official document. Tennessee corporations are required to file annual reports with the Tennessee Secretary of State. Most corporations have also recently received annual report notices from the Secretary of State.
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett will tour Anderson County on Wednesday with Rep. John Ragan, stopping at the Emory Valley Center in Oak Ridge and at a town hall meeting in Lake City.
The Emory Valley Center tour begins at 11 a.m. The town hall starts at 1:30 p.m. at the Lake City Town Hall,195 South Main Street. It’s hosted by Anderson County commissioners Tim Isbel and Zach Bates. A range of issues will be discussed, from the Nov. 6 election to Tennessee’s business climate, a press release said.
The release said Hargett plans to stop by county libraries and small businesses in Clinton and Lake City as well.
“All Anderson County residents are invited to attend,” the press release said.
