A former Hawkins County Criminal Court judge is facing more charges.
According to the Tennessee Bureau Investigation, a Hawkins County Grand Jury indicted James "Jay" Taylor, 41, of Rogersville, on a dozen charges, including theft and money laundering.
Taylor is currently in the Davidson County Jail, where he is being held on 36 counts of theft. In that case, investigators said Taylor filed numerous false claims with the Administrative Office of the Courts requesting payment for services as appointed legal counsel in cases where he did not perform legal services.
The charges in Hawkins County stem from incidents that occurred between May of 2007 and July of 2010.
According to TBI, on various occasions, while acting as an attorney, Taylor kept the settlement funds awarded to clients in workers compensation claims. He also obtained money from individuals under false pretenses with a promise to invest the funds. He then conducted financial transactions to conceal or disguise the funds he obtained in the thefts resulting in the money laundering charges against him.
On four occasions in 2010, while claiming to raise money for a Foundations Display or Heritage Display, investigators said Taylor obtained donations of money from organizations to pay to erect a display in the Hawkins County Justice Center. That display was never built and he concealed or disguised the source of the funds by transferring the money into his interest on lawyer trust account to pay debts and expenses.
After being presented with these charges, the grand jury indicted Taylor on one count of theft over $60,000, four counts of theft more than $10,000 and less than $60,000, four counts of theft more than $1,000 and less than $10,000 and three counts of money laundering.
The total dollar amount of funds taken as stated in the twelve indictments is just under $200,000.
Taylor resigned as judge in May, after accusations of judicial misconduct. He remains in the Davidson County Jail on $175,000 bond.
The Tennessee Attorney General's Office is handling the prosecution of the case.