MARYVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) – The capital murder trial of Kenneth DeHart will remain in Blount County, but the jury that decides his fate will come from Middle Tennessee.
Judge Tammy Harrington issued an order Thursday granting in part and denying in part defense requests for a change of venue and a change of venire, or jury pool. The ruling means jurors will be selected from Sumner County before being transported to Blount County, where the trial proceedings will take place.
DeHart faces the death penalty in connection with the Feb. 8, 2024, shooting during a traffic stop that killed Blount County Sheriff’s Deputy Greg McCowan and wounded Deputy Shelby Eggers.
Both prosecutors and defense attorneys had previously agreed that extensive media coverage and public attention surrounding the case made it necessary to choose jurors from outside East Tennessee. Harrington selected Sumner County, located in Middle Tennessee, as the source of the jury pool.
Under the court’s order, prospective jurors will be summoned and selected in Sumner County before being brought to Blount County for the trial. Once the trial begins, jurors will remain sequestered throughout the proceedings.
While Harrington agreed to move jury selection away from East Tennessee, she rejected defense arguments seeking to move the entire trial out of Blount County. The judge found the defense had not demonstrated sufficient legal grounds for a full change of venue.
To help ensure a fair trial, Harrington approved several measures designed to shield jurors from reminders of Deputy McCowan and public reaction to the case. Those protections include covering or removing memorials bearing McCowan’s name near the courthouse, bringing jurors into the building through a secured rear entrance, avoiding routes that pass visible tributes to the fallen deputy, and prohibiting access to smartphones, television, newspapers and the internet while jurors are sequestered.
The judge said those safeguards will protect jurors from outside influences and help ensure an impartial trial despite the proceedings remaining in Blount County.
The court has directed prosecutors and defense attorneys to submit their scheduling availability and proposed trial dates.
DeHart became the focus of a multi-day manhunt after the shooting before being captured in Knoxville. He was initially indicted on 21 charges, including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, multiple firearm offenses, aggravated assault against first responders, reckless endangerment, tampering with evidence and evading arrest.
The case was later re-indicted after Harrington granted DeHart a new preliminary hearing, ruling he was not given sufficient time to retain private legal counsel before being assigned a public defender.
No trial date has been announced.
