Claiborne County, TN (WOKI) Three minors have now been charged in connection to an “incident” that happened at Claiborne High School.
The news coming from District Attorney General Jared Effler’s office is the latest update in an ongoing investigation by the New Tazewell Police Department and the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office.
Less than a week since the incident, reported on July 30, Head Football Coach Nathan Medlin also resigned from his position.
The three minors were charged with being a delinquent via aggravated rape.
It’s the latest update in an ongoing investigation by the New Tazewell Police Department and the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Young Williams Animal Center is out with a warning.
Scammers in Knoxville are pretending to be animal control officers. Young Williams says two men in regular clothing have even managed to get into people’s homes, reportedly showing up asking for animal documents and medical records.
Center officials say legitimate workers wear dark blue or neon green polos with the center’s logo on them, and they drive a Young-Williams branded truck.
If you see one of these scammers at your home, call police.
Claiborne County, TN (WOKI) The Claiborne County Director of Schools has now spoken about an ongoing hazing investigation involving students.
The Claiborne Co. Board of Education hosted a meeting Thursday night just days after Claiborne High School head football coach Nathan Medlin resigned from his job ahead of the season.
Director of Schools Meredith Medley Arnold addressed the board and the public at the meeting, confirming that the incident being investigated happened during football camp.
“Both the school board members and our administrative team remain fully aware that an incident occurred at the Claiborne High School football camp. We treat such matters with the utmost importance which is why law enforcement was immediately notified and asked to conduct a full investigation. Because that law enforcement investigation remains ongoing and because Claiborne Co Schools possesses a duty to at all times protect student privacy, neither the board nor I, the director of schools, can offer any further specific comments on this situation. Once the law enforcement investigation stands as compete, we trust the district attorney’s office to take appropriate action and update you, the public, regarding the same. With that, I do want to take a moment publicly to thank not only the district attorney’s office, but the Tazewell and New Tazewell police departments for all their diligent and professional work to date. I also want to end these remarks by assuring our students, our parents and all members of our Claiborne County community that we are taking this matter seriously and we will never stop working tirelessly to prioritize the safety of our students. If any mistakes were made by Claiborne County Schools during this process, then we will also work hard to identify such mistakes and make steps to make sure they are never repeated. We understand the importance of trust at Claiborne County Schools and we are going to do everything within our power to strengthen the trust you have in our school system moving forward.” – Director of Schools Meredith Medley Arnold
The New Tazewell Police Department is leading the investigation into the incident. School administrators called the sheriff’s office to investigate a hazing incident that happened at Claiborne High School on July 30.
Corey McGinnis has been named as the interim head football coach at Claiborne High School following the resignation of Nathan Medlin.
Officials with the Claiborne County Schools system commented on the ongoing hazing investigation at a board meeting Thursday. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A man is facing decades in prison after being convicted Thursday for sexually assaulting two minors.
According to District Attorney Charme Allen’s office, 35-year-old Ray Elliott III assaulted a 14-year-old girl in January of 2023, and the girl reported the assault to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office the next day.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation tested evidence in the case, finding Elliot’s DNA in the girl’s underwear. During the investigation, officers also found that another child victim had been abused by Elliot.
Elliot has four previous felony convictions. After his conviction Thursday, Elliott is facing three counts of rape, statutory rape by an authority figure and aggravated sexual battery and one count of attempted aggravated sexual battery and sexual activity involving a minor.
He’ll be sentenced on September 20 and is looking at between 12 and 20 years for each conviction.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A 16-year-old Knox County Schools student is in critical but stable condition Friday morning following a hit and run crash in West Knox County.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened around 7:30 Thursday morning, August 8 at the intersection of Thornton and Hughlan Drive in the Farragut area.
Police say a passer by saw the girl laying on the ground as the bus pulled up.
At this time, KCSO does not have a description of the involved vehicle and is asking those who live in the area to check security cameras and report any information to the sheriff’s office’s Traffic Unit (TANGO) at 865-215-2243; ask for Officer Simerly. You can remain anonymous.
The crash happened around 7:30 a.m. at the intersection of Thorton Drive and Hughlan Drive, KCSO said. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Nashville, TN (WOKI) As school starts back, lawmakers are reminding everyone of Tennessee’s new parental consent law.
The new law requires the doctor or nurse to consult with parents by phone or text before treatment in non-emergency situations. It also applies to school counseling; however, lawmakers say counselors can still listen to a student’s problems or concerns without parental consent.
Should an emergency situation arise, the law does stipulate that any person, including a school nurse, can provide a child with medical assistance to include treating a wound or taking a child to the emergency room in the event of a serious injury.
Seven other states have similar laws that require parental consent for non-emergency medical services: Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Oklahoma, and Texas.
The new law requires the doctor or nurse to consult with parents by phone or text before treatment in non-emergency situations.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a Knox County Schools student was hit by a car Thursday morning while waiting on a school bus.
The girl was at the bus stop at the intersection of Thornton and Hughlan Drive in the Farragut area. A passer by noticed her on the ground at about the same time the school bus arrived.
She was taken to UT Medical Center where she remains; her condition has not been released.
KCSO is asking if you live in the area, please check your cameras to see if you have captured any pertinent footage.
If you have any information, please contact the Sheriff’s office; you can remain anonymous.
The crash happened around 7:30 a.m. at the intersection of Thorton Drive and Hughlan Drive, KCSO said.
KNOX COUNTY – An ongoing investigation by special agents in TBI’s Drug Investigation Division and agents with the 5th Judicial District Drug Task Force has resulted in the indictment of 15 people.
In December, TBI agents and DTF agents began investigating the sale of large quantities of methamphetamine in Knox County and surrounding areas. During the course of the investigation, agents developed information that Richard Carroll Baker, a member of the outlaw motorcycle gang known as the Pagans, was the individual leading the distribution efforts. Further information revealed that Brian Batson Fox, another member of the Pagan Motorcycle Club, along with numerous other individuals, assisted Baker in distributing illegal narcotics throughout East Tennessee.
On July 31st, a Knox County Grand Jury returned indictments charging fifteen people as part of the ongoing investigation. At the time of this release, 14 of those individuals had been located and arrested.
Richard Carroll Baker (DOB: 09/11/78), Knoxville – Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Sell, Deliver, or Manufacture 300 grams or more of Methamphetamine, three counts of Sale/Delivery of 26 Grams of Methamphetamine.
Brian Batson Fox (DOB: 07/26/66), Dandridge – Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Sell, Deliver, or Manufacture 300 grams or more of Methamphetamine.
David Eugene Maples (DOB: 07/16/79), Knoxville – Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Sell, Deliver, or Manufacture 300 grams or more of Methamphetamine.
Joseph Shane Moore (DOB: 03/22/77), Strawberry Plains – Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Sell, Deliver, or Manufacture 300 grams or more of Methamphetamine.
Larry Douglas Bradford (DOB: 04/07/71), Knoxville – Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Sell, Deliver, or Manufacture 300 grams or more of Methamphetamine.
Erin Elizabeth Wright, also known as Erin Fleenor (DOB: 10/11/81), Knoxville – Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Sell, Deliver, or Manufacture 300 grams or more of Methamphetamine.
Deidre Nicole Hood (DOB: 08/19/86), Knoxville – Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Sell, Deliver, or Manufacture 300 grams or more of Methamphetamine.
Connie Sue High (DOB: 06/04/84), Knoxville – Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Sell, Deliver, or Manufacture 300 grams or more of Methamphetamine.
Jill Marie Jones (DOB: 11/03/79), Knoxville – Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Sell, Deliver, or Manufacture 300 grams or more of Methamphetamine.
LeAndrea Faye Osentoski (DOB: 10/09/73), Knoxville – Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Sell, Deliver, or Manufacture 300 grams or more of Methamphetamine.
Alicia Mae Kristen Murphy (DOB: 04/08/87), Knoxville – Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Sell, Deliver, or Manufacture 300 grams or more of Methamphetamine.
Bettina Clara Godwin (DOB: 12/03/82), Knoxville – Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Sell, Deliver, or Manufacture 300 grams or more of Methamphetamine.
Charles Richard Robertson, Jr. (DOB: 06/28/61), Knoxville – Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Sell, Deliver, or Manufacture 300 grams or more of Methamphetamine.
Courtney Janene Lewis (DOB: 11/01/79), Powell – Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Sell, Deliver, or Manufacture 300 grams or more of Methamphetamine.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office, 9th Judicial District Drug Task Force, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are assisting with the investigation, which remains ongoing.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (Courtesy: TBI)
Knox County Schools are still dealing with a bus driver shortage.
While every child still has a ride to school and is not missing any instructional time some obviously are going to come a little bit earlier since those buses are doubling up.
The driver shortage has been impacting schools in East Tennessee for years but Ryan Dillingham, the director of transportation with Knox County schools tells our news partner WVLT that they’re working to hire more drivers.
KCS also has an app that allows parents to track the bus stop and sends alerts when the bus is 5 minutes away.
