Former Utility Manager Pleads Guilty after State’s Investigation into ‘Questionable’ Overtime

An investigation revealed he had received more than $67,000 in “questionable” overtime from January to August 2022. (Credit: Frankly Media)

Former Utility Manager Pleads Guilty after State’s Investigation into ‘Questionable’ Overtime

Morristown, TN (WOKI) The former Witt Utilities Board general manager has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from an investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Benjamin Harris pleaded guilty to theft of property and official misconduct on May 1 in Hamblen County Circuit Court and was sentenced to supervised probation.

He was charged in May of last year after the comptroller’s office found he had misappropriated at least $12,000 and received “questionable” overtime payments of almost $68,000 during part of 2022.

The investigation also found that Harris used a district-owned car to go to a bar in Knoxville to drink during work hours.