"Popcorn" Sutton expected to plead guilty on moonshining charge

At a preliminary hearing in Greeneville Friday, iconic East Tennessee moonshiner Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton heard the conditions that will allow him to leave jail.

Sutton was told he can post $20,000 bond Friday, as long as he stays in Tennessee, and stays away from firearms and illegal drugs. He will also be subject to electronic monitoring in his home.

Sutton will next appear in court on Thursday, April 3, when he's expected to plead guilty to one count of felony possession of a firearm and one county of possession of illegal liquor. Other charges will be dropped.

Sentencing will take place some time in June.

Sutton was already on probation from 2007 moonshining charges when he was arrested again March 14. Agents from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), along with Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC) agents searched Sutton's home and two other properties, finding more than 850 gallons of moonshine, the ingredients needed to make it, and three large stills.

Court records indicate an undercover ABC agent had been buying moonshine from Sutton for weeks. They eventually got enough information for the raid.