Blount County, TN (WOKI) The man accused of killing a Blount County Deputy was back in court Tuesday. Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr. is accused of killing Deputy Greg McCowan and injuring Deputy Shelby Eggers during a traffic stop on February 8 in Maryville. The judge ruling that the case can move forward on a first-degree murder charge against DeHart.
“Based upon the proof before the court, the court finds that there’s probable cause to believe that the offense of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and felon in possession of a weapon was committed by the defendant, Kenneth Wayne DeHart,” ruled Judge William Brewer after a more than two-hour hearing Tuesday paving the way for a grand jury hearing on the matter.
“It was committed here in Blount County, Accordingly, charges will be bound over to the grand jury for its determination of probable cause.”
During Tuesday’s hearing, Brewer along with defense counsel for DeHart and prosecutors for the state of Tennessee heard testimony from Deputy Shelby Eggers and Special Agent Maria Cutshaw with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. In addition, the court showed Eggers’ and Deputy Greg McCowan’s body camera footage from the traffic stop and shooting. The footage, released by BCSO officials Friday, shows McCowan’s and Egger’s points-of-view during the entire encounter.
Public defenders for DeHart sought to make the case that the shooting was not premeditated and that DeHart should instead face a second-degree murder charge; the court ruled in favor of the state moving the matter to the Blount County grand jury to consider the first-degree murder charge, along with two other charges, attempted first-degree murder and felon in possession of a weapon.
DeHart has yet to enter a plea to the charges.
