Visit Knoxville to host open house, display Gustin photos this Friday

Knox County bad a$$ photographer and county IT guy Jon Gustin's photos will be on display at the Visit Knoxville Offices, starting Nov. 1. The display is part of the open house kick off event hosted by the tourism group, beginning on First Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Stop by and check them out!

No wonder some folks want to audit the criminal court clerk's office

Bad a$$ expensive chair

So, I keep hearing all these rumors about how Knox County Criminal Court Clerk Joy McCroskey doesn’t have enough coin in her budget to replace some office chairs. 

Well . . . . .  maybe if someone in that office wasn’t out buying $1,400 chairs there would be enough money. 

Yeah, no kidding. You see, according to county receipts, someone laid down almost $2,840 for two Keilhauer Response 865 office chairs.

They were ordered in February 2012. You can find the receipts, right smack here. 

In addition, someone in the office earlier this year opted to spend roughly $2,000 on a Maytag refrigerator.  

Now, I’m no expert in chairs, but $1,400 sounds like a bunch. Can’t you buy like a whole “room” at Rooms to Go for a couple grand?

Anyhoo, I saw these bad a$$ Leather Executive Massage Chairs with a 5-Motor Massage – right smack here – for $141.95 each. 

But, if you buy three or more you can get them for $131.95. Now, discounting taxes, that’s like 21 chairs. And they massage!

Now, perhaps someone in the office needed an ergonomic chair because they had back surgery. OK. Point taken. Now why do you need two of them? - That's your one freebie Gervin.

Ex-Criminal Court Clerk worker hires attorney, possible lawsuit on way

Richard Collins, the attorney for former Knox County Criminal Court Clerk worker Sara Helms released the following statement today:

My firm was recently retained to represent Sara in connection with her September 27, 2013 discharge from the Knox County Criminal Clerk’s Office. Sara worked for Knox County for over thirteen years.

She was a dedicated employee, who had recently been promoted to serve as the Courtroom Clerk for Division I (Judge Sword). Sara had every expectation of enjoying a long career with the County but was abruptly fired by Joy McCroskey, the Knox County Criminal Court Clerk.

While our investigation is on-going, we can say that Ms. McCroskey gave no details behind the termination decision, save for the vague assertion that some of Sara’s courtroom “minutes” were inaccurate.

To be clear, we categorically deny any suggestion that my client was responsible for the mismanagement of the clerk’s office generally or the recent controversies over false arrests and other misconduct.

Judge Sword observed Sara’s work performance firsthand and, to our knowledge, never complained about Sara’s performance of her official duties.

Frankly, almost daily the circumstances surrounding Sara’s termination grow more and more suspicious. Not only was she a good employee, internal policies regarding progressive discipline were ignored.

Given the timing of events, one cannot escape the conclusion that Ms. McCroskey was motivated by the negative publicity her office was facing and continues to confront.

Duncan retirement talks cost $568

For what it’s worth. Looks like one of the county pension board’s law firms billed the board some $568 in September as officials figured out just how much of his retirement former Knox County Trustee John Duncan III should get back.

At this point, it looks like he’ll get back all the money he put in. However, the coin from the county match will go into an escrow account (where it will still lose or gain) for now. If Duncan, who pleaded guilty to felony official misconduct in July, completes the terms of judicial diversion, then he’ll get the rest.

If not, then, well, no.

Here’s a look at the receipts from attorney Bill Mason of Kennerly, Montgomery and Finley:

Sept. 11: Billed for 30 minutes to the tune of $55.50 for an office consultation with Bill Mason, regarding “J. Duncan’s guilty plea to official misconduct and whether plea would result in forfeiture of retirement plan benefit.”

 Sept. 11: Billed for a one hour telephone conference with Pension Board Executive Director Kim Bennett for $285 regarding his withdrawal and rollover in his retirement plan, which is somewhat like a 401(k). According to the notation, the two discussed “the reimbursement of county and forfeiture provisions applicable for a felony conviction involving official county duties. There was also an office conference regarding “criminal law and status of the case and judicial diversion.” There also was a telephone conversation with Knox County Law Director Bud Armstrong about “county position on the charter forfeiture provisions.” And a telephone conference with Bennett regarding “further email from J. Duncan re follow up on same.”

Sept. 12: Billed $228 for 80 minutes. Apparently, the attorney reviewed the email from Duncan to Bennett. Attorney also drafted email from Bennett and Armstrong confirming the discussion from the previous day, and “with proposed response to J. Duncan re forfeiture provisions. Review her email to J. Ducan re same.”

McCroskey not expect to say too much

Joy McCroskey

Knox County Criminal Court Clerk Joy McCroskey during Monday’s County Commission meeting is expected to address the board to talk about the problems in her office.

Now, there’s a lot of folks out there drooling, just waiting for what she says, expecting some fireworks.

However, if she sticks to script (and I’m not telling you who helped her with it), then she is going to say very little. She will briefly address the board and she will not take questions (there’s liability reasons, and, quite frankly, it’s not in her personal best interest). That’s if she sticks to script.

Do not expect a whole lot of noise from Commissioner Mike Hammond, who has announced his intentions to take on Joy in May’s Republican primary, during the meeting. After it? That’s a different story.

The Audit Committee on Tuesday will more than likely agree to recommend to the commission to audit the department. (Whatever that means.) The News Sentinel will then send out 9 million text alerts treating this “breaking” news like a Mafia hit. Heh.

Keep in mind, if the committee does make the recommendation – it’s just that, a recommendation. The commission will make the final decision and that won’t come until mid-November (since it’s a holiday month). 

It will then take about six months to audit the office. At least.

Errors impacting some Knox voters

The fallout continues from mistakes made in the Knox County Criminal Court Clerk's Office. Here's the latest from the WBIR investigation, right smack here, that talks about how some of the mistakes are affecting voters.

Criminal Court Clerk Joy McCroskey did not return calls seeking comment yesterday. I imagine if she did, she would have someone to blame, perhaps the cleaning lady, for the mistake. On Monday, she's supposed to clear her name during the Knox County Commission meeting. From what I understand she's going to use documents from her office to do this. I'll leave it at that, other than to say that she'll probably blame everyone else for the problems, as well, as the media conspiracy and political motivations from her opponent.

Court clerk facing more challenges

Yesterday evening (and before anyone else - heh), we put out our latest story into the investigation of the Knox County Criminal Court Clerk's Office, one that touches on department head Joy McCroskey's frequent absenteeism, County Commissioner Mike Hammond's political bid to challenge her, and commission Chairman Brad Anders' request that she attend Monday's board meeting.

The story also includes a timeline of the WBIR investigation. You can find the bad a$$ report, right smack here.

I did want to note that with all the recent reporting, it should be pointed out that the office, which includes Sessions Court, Fourth Circuit Court and Criminal Court, does have some good employees in it. I think that often gets lost. Now, I'm not sure if they're too fond of the media right now, but my experience with the employees has always been positive, and the folks who were there have always been pleasant.

I do, however, think that there are a number of employees who do need more training. I think some have been thrown into new jobs and are expected to know everything right away. The office also needs an upgrade, at least into the 1990s. I think I saw a stone tablet and chisel the last time I was done there.

Hammond seeks Criminal Court seat

Mike Hammond

Knox County Commissioner Mike Hammond, a former board chairman and longtime local radio personality, announced his intentions Wednesday morning to run for the Knox County Criminal Court Clerk's seat.

The move comes in the wake of a WBIR Channel 10 investigation that has unveiled a series of problems inside the office that officials are now calling a systemic problem that has led to wrongful arrests, wrongfully revoked driver's licenses, and unwarranted convictions.

Hammond, long rumored to run for the position, said he will talk more about his qualifications and outline his plan during his official kickoff late next month at Calhoun's.

"I have for some time been considering a run for the office of the Clerk of Criminal Courts and had set Nov. 20 as the start of my campaign," he said. "I am today formally announcing that I will be a candidate for the office of Knox County Clerk of Criminal Courts in the May 2014 Republican Primary. At my campaign kickoff November 20th at 4:30 pm at Calhouns on the River, I will outline my vision for the office and how it can better serve the citizens of Knox County."

McCroskey, who has denied many of the allegations brought to her, first took office after her predecessor Martha Phillips passed away. She was elected in 2010.

She is over Fourth Circuit Court, General Sessions, and Criminal Court.

McCroskey operates what the county calls a "fee office," meaning it's supposed to be self-sustaining. Any money it receives covers $494,000 in monthly payroll, including benefits, and the rest is turned over to the county's general fund to help maintain overall day-to-day operations.

More on Criminal Court Clerk Dept

I always mean to do this the day before, but whatever. As we reported yesterday, the fallout in the Knox County Criminal Court Clerk's Office continues as we continue our investigation into the department.

Yesterday we again scooped the competition (hey, they started it with all this "scoop" this and "scoop" that crap), with a story touching on errors and their effects on driving records and the move to dismiss more than 100 traffic citations because of the mistakes. You can find that bad a$$ story, right smack here.

We also had a sidebar that talks about a pretty key contradiction. I mean really, don't make up stuff on a camera and expect not to get caught. Right smack here for that one.

Buswell to serve as senior director

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett announced today that Knox County Veterans Service Officer Robert “Buzz” Buswell will take over as interim director of Knox County Veterans and Senior Services. 

“Buzz has done an outstanding job serving the veterans and taxpayers of this community, and I am very confident that he will continue to work hard and be successful in this new position,” said Mayor Burchett.

In addition to his new duties, Buswell will continue to work with Deputy Veterans Service Officer Tom Humphries to ensure that Knox County’s veterans continue to have access to the benefits and services they have earned.

Buswell replaces Hemal Tailor who quit under pressure last week.

Judges to meet about errors/arrests

Probably should have done this yesterday, but just another update in the continuing saga of what's going on in the Knox County Criminal Court Clerk's Office. We talked to officials yesterday, and the county's sessions judges are expected to meet again on the matter. Also, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett and Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones spoke out about the WBIR investigation about errors leading to wrongful arrests.

Click right smack here for that bad a$$ story. In the meantime, a head nod goes out to the Knoxville News Sentinel, crediting us with the investigation during today's story, which you can find right smack here (but can only read if you've got the coin to cover the pay wall). When I was with the Sentinel, we worked on a number of stories that WBIR noted, so that's cool.

Officials: Errors leading to arrests

If you didn't catch if over the weekend, then click right smack here for our "Wrongful Arrests" story and the sidebar in which two of the defendants speak out.