By JILL MCNEAL
6 News Anchor/Reporter
ATHENS (WATE) - A former death row inmate is suing McMinn County for violating his rights. His case shocked the Athens community two decades ago.
Gussie Vann was convicted in 1992 of raping and killing his eight-year-old daughter, Necia. He spent 19 years on death row before his conviction was overturned.
Vann now says that time is worth $20 million.
He is currently serving time at the Morgan County Correctional Complex for an unrelated rape conviction, but he is eligible for parole again in 2014.
In the lawsuit, Vann's attorney Robin Flores said two investigators, who have since died, arrested his client without probable cause.
The suit claims McMinn authorities held him for ten months without bond and without the benefit of counsel, and coerced his confessions.
During his 19 years on death row, Vann was scheduled to die in the electric chair five times. The lawsuit states he suffered "the mental anguish and terror of preparation for death and.... humiliation at a wrongful conviction."
"There's got to be something said for death row for 19 years and knowing you didn't commit the crime," Flores said.
"Anytime something like that happens in your county or your community, it's always something that makes you uncomfortable. It makes you question the safety of your children," said current McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy.
Guy was a young patrol officer in 1994. He worked in the courtroom during the trial and transported Vann from the Loudon County Jail to the courthouse.
"He never gave us any trouble. He was always very polite. I recall him reading a Bible when he would go back and forth," Guy said.
Guy says they talked sometimes in the patrol car, but not about the case.
"I really tried not to talk much to him if I didn't have to. For a young officer, it was very uncomfortable," he said.
Sheriff Guy was shocked and disappointed when Vann was granted a new trial based on ineffective counsel and prosecutors chose to dismiss the charges.
"You never enjoy hearing things like that, that someone might be back on the street," Guy said.
The sheriff won't comment on the lawsuit, which he hasn't seen. With Vann off death row and eligible for parole in just two years, Guy knows they could meet again.
"It doesn't make you feel good. I would hope that if he does return to McMinn County he lives very quietly and very peacefully," he said.
The McMinn County mayor's office said county officials won't be commenting on the lawsuit until they have had a chance to review it for themselves.
Gussie Vann is currently serving time at the Morgan County Correctional Complex for an unrelated rape conviction, but he is eligible for parole again in 2014.
Vann was convicted in 1992 of raping and killing his eight-year-old daughter, Necia.
