spectr17
01-13-2004, 08:35 PM
Grand jury reinstates charges against fisherman
By JAMIE SATTERFIELD, Knoxville News,
satterfield@knews.com
January 7, 2004
A fisherman who had been cleared of the most serious charges lodged against him for allegedly boating through restricted waters to get to a bass tournament weigh-in is back on the legal hook.
A Knox County grand jury has reinstated charges of evading arrest and reckless endangerment against Richie Lee Anderson, 38.
Knox County General Sessions Court Judge Geoff Emery had dismissed those charges earlier this year, ruling Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officers failed to make their case.
Anderson was first charged in September 2002 after he allegedly refused to heed TWRA officers' commands to stop his boat. The officers were trying to clear a section of Fort Loudoun Lake because of a cloud of sulfuric acid fumes hovering over the Turkey Creek area after a train derailed and a tanker car carrying the chemical ruptured.
But Anderson and fellow fisherman Timothy Alse Martin, 36, believed they had the winning catch in the Bass 'N Action Grand Classic tournament being held that day. As it turned out, they did, but tournament organizers later refused to award the pair the $20,000 bass boat offered as a prize because of their run-in with the TWRA.
The pair later sued tournament officials and Norfolk Southern. The Knox County Circuit Court lawsuit is still pending.
Anderson, who was piloting the boat when he ran afoul of the TWRA, was nabbed at the weigh-in and charged with a slew of offenses. Martin, a passenger in the boat, was charged with disorderly conduct.
In an April hearing, Emery cleared Martin and substantially shortened the list of charges facing Anderson, ruling there was not enough evidence to show Anderson endangered TWRA officer Rusty Boles or intentionally fled from him.
In indictments issued last month, the grand jury disagreed, restoring both charges to the reckless boating, disorderly conduct and safety inspection case originally sent to them for consideration. The grand jury has taken no action against Martin, however.
Attorney Tommy Hindman, who represents both men, said he was "disappointed that the state has continued to expend their resources on a case that already had been substantially decided" in sessions court.
"However, we're prepared to defend this case and have a jury of 12 people to decide (Anderson's) fate," Hindman said.
Jamie Satterfield may be reached at 865-342-6308.
By JAMIE SATTERFIELD, Knoxville News,
satterfield@knews.com
January 7, 2004
A fisherman who had been cleared of the most serious charges lodged against him for allegedly boating through restricted waters to get to a bass tournament weigh-in is back on the legal hook.
A Knox County grand jury has reinstated charges of evading arrest and reckless endangerment against Richie Lee Anderson, 38.
Knox County General Sessions Court Judge Geoff Emery had dismissed those charges earlier this year, ruling Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officers failed to make their case.
Anderson was first charged in September 2002 after he allegedly refused to heed TWRA officers' commands to stop his boat. The officers were trying to clear a section of Fort Loudoun Lake because of a cloud of sulfuric acid fumes hovering over the Turkey Creek area after a train derailed and a tanker car carrying the chemical ruptured.
But Anderson and fellow fisherman Timothy Alse Martin, 36, believed they had the winning catch in the Bass 'N Action Grand Classic tournament being held that day. As it turned out, they did, but tournament organizers later refused to award the pair the $20,000 bass boat offered as a prize because of their run-in with the TWRA.
The pair later sued tournament officials and Norfolk Southern. The Knox County Circuit Court lawsuit is still pending.
Anderson, who was piloting the boat when he ran afoul of the TWRA, was nabbed at the weigh-in and charged with a slew of offenses. Martin, a passenger in the boat, was charged with disorderly conduct.
In an April hearing, Emery cleared Martin and substantially shortened the list of charges facing Anderson, ruling there was not enough evidence to show Anderson endangered TWRA officer Rusty Boles or intentionally fled from him.
In indictments issued last month, the grand jury disagreed, restoring both charges to the reckless boating, disorderly conduct and safety inspection case originally sent to them for consideration. The grand jury has taken no action against Martin, however.
Attorney Tommy Hindman, who represents both men, said he was "disappointed that the state has continued to expend their resources on a case that already had been substantially decided" in sessions court.
"However, we're prepared to defend this case and have a jury of 12 people to decide (Anderson's) fate," Hindman said.
Jamie Satterfield may be reached at 865-342-6308.