Dunn and Marsh Scheduled for Arraignment On October 1
September 30, 2026, 5:21 p.m.
SEVIERVILLE, TN - James Bruce “Jimmy” Dunn, District Attorney General for Tennessee’s Fourth Judicial District, and Deputy District Attorney General William Brownlow Marsh are scheduled to appear in court on October 1, 2026, for arraignment on criminal charges returned against them by the Sevier County Grand Jury on August 27.
THE GRAND JURY’S ALLEGATIONS
On August 26, 2026, the Sevier County Grand Jury returned a True Bill Presentment charging Dunn and Marsh with criminal offenses arising from what the Presentment alleges was the unlawful arrest and detention of Sevier County citizen Erik Cooper on May 1, 2023, after Cooper exited Grand Jury Panel proceedings.
Cooper was expected to present allegations to the Grand Jury on May 1, 2023 involving crimes alleged committed by Assistant District Attorney General Ronald Crockett Newcomb during March 27, 2023 Grand Jury proceedings.
The Presentment alleges that Dunn and Marsh participated in obtaining and using an incomplete capias to cause Cooper to be arrested immediately after Cooper appeared before the Sevier County Grand Jury. According to the Presentment, Marsh obtained a copy of the incomplete capias after representing to court personnel that the document was for his file. The Presentment alleges that Marsh thereafter provided the document to Dunn and that Dunn caused the incomplete capias to be delivered to a Sevier County Sheriff’s deputy for execution.
The Presentment further alleges that, before Cooper entered the Grand Jury proceedings on May 1, 2023, Dunn confirmed with the deputy that arrangements were in place for Cooper’s arrest. Cooper was arrested as he left the Grand Jury proceedings.
The Presentment alleges that these actions constituted an unauthorized and retaliatory exercise of governmental authority directed against Cooper because of his activities as a Grand Jury witness and his efforts to report alleged misconduct through Tennessee’s Grand Jury process.
THE CHARGES
The Grand Jury charged Dunn with six criminal offenses:
Count One — Official Misconduct / Unauthorized Exercise of Official Power
Count Two — Official Oppression
Count Three — Retaliation for Past Action Against a Witness
Count Four — Conspiracy to Commit Official Oppression
Count Five — Coercion of a Witness
Count Six — Civil Rights Intimidation
Marsh is charged in the Presentment with Official Oppression and Conspiracy to Commit Official Oppression.
Dunn and Marsh were arrested and booked at the Sevier County Jail on August 27, 2026. Both were subsequently released.
Recently obtained BodyCam footage depicts Dunn and Marsh arriving on August 27 under escort by Sevier County Sheriff Michael R. Hodges, Jr. Neither Dunn nor Marsh wore handcuffs. Booking records indicate Dunn’s booking process was completed in about 30 minutes, and Marsh’s booking completed shortly thereafter. Both Dunn and Marsh were cooperative with Sheriff’s Deputies during the booking process and were released on their own recognizance.
Honorable Robert E. Lee Davies was appointed by order of the Supreme Court of Tennessee to preside over the case.
THE MAY 1, 2023 CHRONOLOGY
The chronology alleged in the Presentment centers upon the condition and use of the capias at the time Cooper was arrested. Records obtained in connection with the matter reflect that Cooper was arrested at approximately 2:45 P.M. on May 1, 2023, and was booked into the Sevier County Jail at approximately 3:15 P.M. The bond order was not entered by the Clerk of Court until 4:15 P.M. The completed capias bearing the bond amount was subsequently file-stamped by the Circuit Court Clerk at 5:01 P.M., approximately two hours after Cooper had already been arrested and approximately one hour and forty-six minutes after he had been booked into the Sevier County Jail.
The Grand Jury’s Presentment alleges that the document used to arrest Cooper earlier that afternoon had not yet been completed in the ordinary judicial process when it was obtained and delivered for execution.
COOPER: “THE COURT PROCESS MUST NOW DETERMINE THE TRUTH”
Cooper emphasized that the October 1 proceeding is an arraignment—not a determination of guilt.
“Mr. Dunn and Mr. Marsh have been accused of serious criminal offenses by a Grand Jury, but an accusation is not a conviction. They are presumed innocent and are entitled to every constitutional protection afforded to an accused person.” Cooper continued: “The significance of the October 1st proceeding is that these allegations now move forward through the ordinary criminal justice process. The Grand Jury has returned its Presentment. Mr. Dunn and Mr. Marsh will have the opportunity to answer those allegations, and the court process must now determine the truth.”
Case: State of Tennessee v. James “Jimmy” Bruce Dunn and William Brownlow Marsh, Sevier County Circuit Court, Fourth Judicial District of Tennessee, Case No. 2026-CR-486, Honorable Robert E. Lee Davies presiding.
Documents Available Here: https://tinyurl.com/2s4h8kh3
