Oak Ridge Today

Report: Oliver Springs man brandishes butcher knife, faces kidnapping charge

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An Oliver Springs man was charged with aggravated kidnapping and domestic assault after he allegedly brandished a butcher knife while arguing with his wife—from whom he was separated—laid on top of her, held the knife to his throat, and told her she could not leave, authorities said.

Mark T. Phillips, 36, of Half Moon Road went to the victim’s home on Edmonds Drive at about 7 p.m. Thursday. He let her take children in the home to school at about 7 a.m. Friday, and she sought refuge at the Oliver Springs Police Department, according to affidavits filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court by Oliver Springs Sgt. Rick Hamby.

There were four children asleep in the house at the time of the Thursday night argument, court records said. They range in age from 6 to 13.

Oliver Springs officers tried to locate Phillips, but he had fled. They later found him at an abandoned house near Foxwood Circle. He was aggressive toward police, the affidavits said.

In addition to aggravated kidnapping and domestic assault, he has also been charged with aggravated criminal trespassing. He remained jailed Monday afternoon.

Y-12 activists indicted by federal grand jury for trespassing, property destruction

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Three anti-nuclear weapons activists arrested July 28 in the high-security Protected Area at the Y-12 National Security Complex have been indicted by a federal grand jury on three counts of trespassing, property depredation, and property destruction.

The three defendants—Greg Boertje-Obed, Megan Rice, and Michael R. Walli—are expected to be arraigned this morning in U.S. District Court in Knoxville.

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Y-12 protesters face new felony charges, judge releases two

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Note: This story was last updated at 1:14 p.m. Aug. 4.

KNOXVILLE—New felony property destruction charges were filed Friday against three anti-nuclear weapons activists who allegedly sneaked into the Y-12 National Security Complex on Saturday, and U.S. Magistrate Judge C. Clifford Shirley agreed to release two of the defendants.

The new charges carry stiffer penalties than the previously filed misdemeanor trespassing charges, including up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

The new charges were filed against Greg Boertje-Obed, Megan Rice, and Michael R. Walli, who have been detained at the Blount County Corrections Facility after being arrested at about 4:30 a.m. Saturday in the high-security Protected Area on the west end of Y-12.

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Y-12 protesters plead not guilty, face Oct. 9 trial

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Greg Boertje-Obed

Greg Boertje-Obed

Megan Rice

Megan Rice

Michael Walli

Michael Walli

KNOXVILLE—Three anti-nuclear weapons activists accused of illegally crossing four fences to get into a high-security area at the Y-12 National Security Complex pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal misdemeanor trespassing charges.

An Oct. 9 trial date was set for the three defendants, and U.S. Magistrate Judge C. Clifford Shirley scheduled a Friday afternoon hearing to help determine whether they should continue to be detained.

The three defendants—Michael R. Walli, 63, of Washington, D.C.; Megan Rice, 82, of New York; and Greg Boertje-Obed, 57, of Duluth, Minn.—have been jailed at the Blount County Corrections Facility.

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