Jacksboro — UPDATE 11:45 AM Monday: Former Claiborne County Sheriff David Ray faces an Oct. 29 court date to check back on the status of his case.
Ray's case was taken up Monday but he waived his appearance and did not attend in Jacksboro.
The case is being prosecuted by the 13th Judicial District Attorney General's Office. The 8th Judicial District Attorney General's Office, which handles cases in Claiborne County, has recused itself.
PREVIOUS STORY: Former Claiborne County Sheriff David Ray faces his first court hearing Monday morning in Jacksboro, accused of using inmate labor to work on his personal vehicles, using an inmate to help with his failed re-election bid and trying to get out of paying sales taxes on several vehicles he sold.
A grand jury indicted Ray, a former General Sessions Court judge, Aug. 22. Ray had just lost his bid to retain office a couple weeks before.
Judge Shayne Sexton is scheduled to preside over the hearing. But Claiborne County prosecutors have recused themselves because they've worked with Ray, so a change in judicial supervision of the case also is likely.
District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway of the 13th Judicial District on the Cumberland Plateau is prosecuting the case in place of 8th Judicial District Attorney General Jared Effler.
Larry Allen Roberts, a sergeant with the Sheriff's Office, and Larry Lee Martin, a captain, also are being prosecuted. Roberts is charged with two counts of official misconduct, according to the TBI, and Martin is charged with three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Records show Ray faces a 15-count indictment that includes charges of official misconduct, attempt to evade or defeat tax due, forgery and use of inmates for personal gain.
Authorities raided the Sheriff's Office in May. Dunaway said state and federal investigators are involved.
Claiborne County Sheriff, Two Employees Indicted Following Joint Investigation http://tbinewsroom.com/2018/08/22/claiborne-county-sheriff-two-employees-indicted-following-joint-investigation/ …
In August 2017, TBI special agents began investigating allegations of illegal activity at the Claiborne County Sheriff's Office, according to the TBI.
More: David Ray arrested
Investigators found that Ray used inmate labor and county resources to work on vehicles and equipment he personally owned from August 2017 to August 2018, according to the TBI. Ray also used inmate labor to assemble his own campaign signs, as well as forging and altering the certificate of title to at least one vehicle, according to authorities.
The investigation also found Ray tried to avoid paying the proper sales tax on several personally owned vehicles that he sold dating to 2012.
Ray is a former TBI agent.
During the investigation, agents learned that Roberts, also known as “Fireball”, used a county vehicle to acquire a controlled substance, the TBI alleges.
Investigators found that Martin was a convicted felon and possessed a handgun on multiple occasions despite the prior conviction.
Roberts and Martin also are due in court.
In May, the Claiborne County mayor said financial records were the target of a federal investigation at the Claiborne County Justice Center. In a press release, Mayor Jack Daniels said state and federal agents seized financial records from the Sheriff's Office and finance office as part of an ongoing investigation.