Paul King, an elected Constable who is also employed by Hamblen County government as manager of Cherokee Park, was indicted by a Hamblen County grand jury in May 2008 and charged, along with his boss Cherokee Park Director Frank Parker, with theft over $500.
King, following the lead of Co-Defendant Parker, has filed papers with D.A. Berkeley Bell requesting pre-trial diversion.
Co-Defendant Parker admitted in his request for diversion to making a false statement to the T.B.I. during the investigation and attempted to shift blame to the Victim for somehow "pestering" him into committing the crime. King, in his request for diversion, simply says "At the time, I knew it was wrong and should not have done it."
BACKGROUND: King's Co-Defendant Frank Parker, was Director of Cherokee Park, a sitting county commissioner, and a Hamblen County deputy at the time of the October 2007 incident. Parker and King were indicted for theft over $500. In addition, Parker was indicted for felony official misconduct. Parker resigned from his county commission seat just before filing his request for diversion in June. Parker was granted pre-trial diversion by D.A. Berkeley Bell in July 2008.
In Parker's request for diversion, he accepted "criminal responsibility" for his actions and also stated that he had made a false statement to T.B.I. Agent Chris Bevins during the investigation. Parker apparently told T.B.I. Agent Chris Bevins that he kept $500 of the $750 that was stolen. In his later "diversion" account of what happened, Parker stated that he and King actually split the money--$375 apiece. After diversion was granted, Sheriff Esco Jarnagin stripped Parker of his deputy status. Parker, however, is still Director of Cherokee Park with full salary and benefits.
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