Thursday, December 14, 2017

Shannon Haney trial
A Cocke County Circuit Court Jury late Wednesday returned a "not guilty" verdict in a cocaine case. Shannon Haney, 48, Rock City Road, Newport was charged with the sale and delivery of more than .5 gram of crack cocaine in February, 2015. During the trial before Judge Carter Moore, a female confidential informant testified she went to the Haney home where the defendant forced her to take off all her clothes to be sure she had no recording device. She said she had previously purchased cocaine from the defendant. The informant said she paid Haney $100 for the cocaine and herself received pay of $100. The jury heard the recording of the transaction reportedly from a hand-held device, but the recording did not include a direct conversation regarding a drug buy. Asst. DA Tonya Thornton called former detective Travis Webb to the stand and he testified that the informant offered to make a drug buy because she needed money. He told the jury that she was not facing charges at the time. During questioning by Prosecutor Thornton, the informant testified that she has a previous criminal record and worked as an informant because she had a difficult time finding a job. She told Prosecutor Thornton that she didn't want to testify in the case and would not work as an informant again. Sheriff's Department Drug Agent Lt. David Robertson testified to the recording made by the informant saying she and her car were searched before the informant went to the Haney home and when she came back she had crack cocaine. But Defense Attorney Jessica Sisk pointed out that the informant was not strip searched before she went to the Haney home, suggesting that the informant had the cocaine on her person before she went to the residence. Haney waived his right to testify and Attorney Sisk did not put on defense testimony. Although more than 50 prospective jurors are on the jury list, only about 30 showed up for the trial, still that was enough to seat a jury.


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