FILE - In this April 2, 2018, file photo, a pharmacist in San Francisco poses for photos holding a bottle of OxyContin. In court papers filed in New York on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, Purdue Pharma, the drug's manufacturer, flied for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

Purdue Pharma begins Chapter 11 bankruptcy journey

NEW YORK ) — Purdue Pharma gets its day in court Tuesday after the OxyContin maker filed for bankruptcy and negotiated a potential multi-billion dollar settlement to resolve thousands of lawsuits.

Updated Sep 17, 2019 at 9:19 AM

Carter County Circuit Court

Man facing first-degree murder trail loses wrongful death lawsuit

ELIZABETHTON — Jon Christopher Ralph, 51, is still facing a first-degree murder trial in the death of his mother, Edith Betty Ralph, 78, but a civil case accusing him of wrongful death has ended with a judge ordering him to pay $600,000 in Sep 13, 2019 at 11:25 PM

Video surveillance footage from a Johnson City bank being robbed by Jason Lee Robinson in January 2019.

Robbery sentence

Kentucky man gets 15 years in federal prison for bank robberies, including one in Johnson City.

A Kentucky man who robbed a Johnson City bank in January was sentenced to 15 years and six months in prison for a string of holdups across the country.

Updated Sep 12, 2019 at 6:29 PM

FILE - In this Aug. 17, 2018 file photo, family and friends who have lost loved ones to OxyContin and opioid overdoses leave pill bottles in protest outside the headquarters of Purdue Pharma, which is owned by the Sackler family, in Stamford, Conn. New York is suing the billionaire family behind Oxycontin, alleging the drugmaker fueled the opioid crisis by putting hunger for profits over patient safety. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)

Opioid Lawsuit

Tennessee appeals court says opioid producers can be sued

KNOXVILLE — The Tennessee Court of Appeals has ruled that a lawsuit against opioid makers can move forward, overturning a lower court that had dismissed the claims.

Updated Sep 12, 2019 at 2:53 PM

Jail homiciide

One of six charged in jail death pleads guilty as accessory after the fact, ordered to serve 11 months

One of six men charged in the January 2019 death of a fellow inmate at the Washington County Detention Center pleaded guilty to his charge in a Jonesborough courtroom on Friday.

Updated Sep 7, 2019 at 4:45 PM

Carter County Criminal Court

Woman convicted in bat assault sentenced to 18 years

ELIZABETHTON _ Kasey Della Miller, 32, 1832 Bristol Highway, was sentenced to 18 years in prison when she entered a guilty plea in Carter County Criminal Court on Tuesday. She had been accused of using a baseball bat to beat a man until he was Updated Sep 4, 2019 at 6:55 PM

homicide

Benfield murder trial set for next summer

ELIZABETHTON — The dates for the first-degree murder trial of Chad Benfield, 46, were set during a short session in Carter County Criminal Court on Thursday. The state is seeking the death penalty in the beating death of 89-year-old Mary Nolen. Updated Aug 29, 2019 at 10:30 PM

child rape

Trial starts for Tennessee pastor accused of raping children

A West Tennessee pastor is being tried on the first of 47 counts of child sexual abuse, including 16 counts of statutory rape.

Updated Aug 27, 2019 at 11:14 AM

Carter County Criminal Court

Second defendant sentenced to 15 years in child neglect case

ELIZABETHTON — Alexandria Ufalla Nelson, 20, pleaded guilty to an attempted aggravated child neglect charge on Wednesday in Carter County Criminal Court.

Updated Aug 22, 2019 at 7:46 PM

Tennessee

Appeals court rules for reporter in Tennessee public records case

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled on Friday that the state does not have the right to withhold ordinary public records just because they become part of a criminal investigation.

Aug 19, 2019 at 11:17 AM

This photo provided by The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation shows Curtis Ray Watson. Authorities say Watson, a convict suspected of killing a corrections administrator before escaping prison on a tractor has been captured. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said on Twitter that Watson was caught Sunday, Aug. 11, 2019. (The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation via AP)

homicide

Tennessee convict set to face judge after escape, capture

RIPLEY — A Tennessee convict accused of killing a corrections administrator and driving away from prison on a tractor is going back before a judge Wednesday.

Aug 14, 2019 at 1:48 PM

Michael Brown

Michael Brown's father seeks new investigation into killing

CLAYTON, Mo. — On the fifth anniversary of Michael Brown’s death in Ferguson, his father is urging the top St. Louis County prosecutor to reopen the investigation into the white police officer who fatally shot the black and unarmed 18-year-old. Updated Aug 9, 2019 at 11:20 AM

FILE - This undated booking file photo provided by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation shows Michael Cummins. Court records show Michael Cummins was convicted and released on probation repeatedly in the two years leading up to the discovery of the bodies over the weekend at two homes in rural Sumner County. Law enforcement agents arrested Cummins on Saturday, April 27 about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from one of the two crime scenes at separate homes in rural Sumner County, Tenn. (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation via AP, File)

serial killings

Death penalty sought for Tennessee man accused of killing 8

GALLATIN — The state says it will seek the death penalty in its case against a Tennessee man charged with killing eight people.

Updated Aug 8, 2019 at 3:18 PM

Murder conviction

Johnson City man convicted of a 2013 murder back in Jonesborough asking for new trial

A Johnson City man convicted in a 2013 attempted robbery and fatal shooting was back in a Washington County courtroom Tuesday asking for a new trial based on what his new attorney said were reversible errors in the trial.

Aug 6, 2019 at 8:25 PM

Washington County Criminal Court

Two women set for 2020 trial in drug overdose death

A Washington County Criminal Court Judge set a reckless homicide trial for two women charged in the 2017 drug overdose death of a Johnson City man for early next year.

Aug 2, 2019 at 11:51 PM