KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Knox County Property Assessor Phil Ballard and former county Trustee’s Office employee Jason Dobbins appeared before Judge D. Kelly Thomas on Wednesday, facing separate official misconduct charges following months-long investigations by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office.

Both men were indicted by a grand jury in August.

Dobbins is charged with two counts of official misconduct. Investigators allege he used his position in the Trustee’s Office to make over $100,000 in real estate deals in South Knox County.

Credit: WBIR Jason Dobbins appeared in court in front of Judge D. Kelly Thomas on Nov. 12.

His attorneys, Stephen Ross Johnson and Catalina Goodwin, argue that Dobbins was not read his Garrity rights, which are protections similar to Miranda rights for pu

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