Knox Co. mayor pays sheriff's fine, hopes to end lawsuits

Knox Co. mayor pays sheriff's fine, hopes to end lawsuits

January 24, 2005

By TEARSA SMITH
6 News Anchor/Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale says Monday that he's paid a $300 contempt of court fine owed by Sheriff Tim Hutchison in an effort to help squash an ongoing legal feud.

The court fight between Sheriff Hutchison and County Commissioner Wanda Moody has cost county taxpayers more than $181,000 in legal fees.

In 2003, Hutchison was held in criminal contempt of court for lying. He was fined $300 by the judge. [ sheriff in contempt ]

Moody had requested public records involving the sheriff's horse stables, helicopters and drug accounts. The sheriff turned over two dozen pages and said that was all. It was later discovered that 15 more boxes of documents existed.

The state supreme court declined to hear the case in December 2004.

Recently, Sheriff Hutchison's lawyer requested a court order mandating that Knox County government funds be used to pay the contempt fine.

Moody's lawyer says that would be in contempt of court and violate the county charter. So, Mayor Ragsdale used his personal money.

"This doesn't need to end next year or even in a couple of months," Ragsdale said. "If you have to lock yourselves up in a room, the parties involved get an arbitrator, get a mediator, whatever it takes but let's stop this disaster."

The sheriff faxed his reply, saying, "This is a good gesture but won't stop Commissioner Moody in her quest to control the sheriff's office through the courts. It's a shame she won't drop this foolishness."

There's no word yet from Moody.

In 2003, Moody had four lawsuits going against the sheriff, accusing him of running a shadow government, setting up his own law department, purchasing department, construction department, overseeing the justice center project and building other facilities, all without approval from county commission. [ series of lawsuits ]

Other accusations by Moody included that the sheriff wasted taxpayer money and used his personnel for his own projects when they should have been protecting citizens.

If county money was used to pay the contempt fine, Moody's lawyer would've filed additional litigation, costing taxpayers more money.

The request from Ragsdale for both parties to meet as soon as possible was sent Monday. He says he isn't picking sides by paying the fine.