Pubdate: Sat, 05 Jan 2002
Source: Knoxville News-Sentinel (TN)
Copyright: 2002 The Knoxville News-Sentinel Co
Contact:  http://www.knoxnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/226
Author: Randy Kenner

QUESTIONS ARISE OVER SHERIFF'S AIRSTRIP

Lawyer Says Property Owned By Drug Dealer

Knox County is paying a convicted drug dealer at least $2,700 a month so 
the Sheriffs Department can operate its helicopters out of his airstrip, a 
Knoxville lawyer said in court Friday. But Sheriff Tim Hutchison said 
Friday evening he didn't know Scott Sheldon Walker had pleaded guilty to 
conspiring to possess and distribute marijuana.

Walker, 38, of Gatlinburg is set to be sentenced next month in federal 
court after being caught last year with a load of 300 pounds of marijuana 
at a Louisiana airport.

Knoxville lawyer Herbert S. Moncier filed court papers that included the 
Sept. 7, 2001, agreement between Knox County and Walker Aviation Services 
LLC, "for the purpose of landing and parking its aircraft" at a site off 
Mascot Road.

"Absolutely not," Hutchison said when asked if he knew of Walker's 
background. The sheriff said a representative from the aviation company 
offered its field, and the company was referred to the Knox County Law 
Department.

"The first we heard about (the drug conviction) was when Herb started doing 
his little dance and calling all the media," Hutchison said. "The only time 
I spoke to him (Walker) was when the (Knox County) Law Department was 
working that contract with his lawyers."

The sheriff said he still didn't know if Walker had been convicted of a 
drug offense and indicated that his office is looking into the matter.

If it confirms that Walker did plead guilty to a federal drug charge - and 
if he remains involved in the Gatlinburg-based Walker Aviation Services LLC 
- - Hutchison said his office will end the agreement.

"We can't be doing business with someone who has (a drug conviction)," 
Hutchison said. "So if he's part of it, we'll have to find another place.

The "Landing Fee Agreement" between Walker Aviation Services LLC and Knox 
County was signed on Sept. 7 - just three days after Walker Aviation 
Services was formed, according to state records. Scott S. Walker is listed 
as its registered agent.

According to now-sealed court records, Walker was arrested after being 
caught at an airport in Pineville, La., with a shipment of marijuana he was 
flying to Sevier County. He subsequently agreed to cooperate against his 
associates.

The Landing Fee Agreement is signed by Walker, Hutchison and Knox County 
Executive Thomas Schumpert. The Law Director's office also signed off on it.

Moncier discussed the agreement Friday during a hearing on one of two 
bitterly contested lawsuits brought against Hutchison by Knox County 
Commissioner Wanda Moody.

The lawsuits - dubbed "Moody I" and "Moody II" to distinguish them - 
contend that Hutchison cannot by state law use taxpayer money or employees 
on things like construction projects and maintaining aircraft. The first 
lawsuit, or "Moody I," was filed in 1999. It aimed at preventing Hutchison 
from overseeing the proposed downtown justice center.

The nearly $100 million project was shelved, however, after Moncier and 
Knox County Attorney General Randy Nichols argued it wasn't needed and was 
a waste of money. Even though the project is dead, Moody and Moncier still 
seek a ruling that Hutchison cannot legally oversee such a project.

"Moody II," filed last year, sought to ground the department's six 
helicopters and block construction of a dormitory and horse stables on 
Maloneyville Road.

Moncier has since added claims that Hutchison is building an airstrip at 
the Walker Aviation property on Mascot Road and has renovated a barn on 
private property on Topside Road to house the department's horses.

"That's public funds being put into private property," Moncier said.

A motion to dismiss the lawsuit - filed by Deputy Knox County Law Directors 
John E. Owings and Mary Ann Stackhouse - was heard Friday by Hamblen County 
Chancellor Thomas R. Frierson II.

Moncier argued no one knows how much the alleged projects cost or the 
source of the money that funded them and that Hutchison uses his employees 
to build them.

That violates state law, according to Moncier, who characterized 
Hutchison's department as being a government unto itself.

Frierson took the motion to dismiss under advisement and will rule later.

Hutchison denied he was building an airport or renovating anyone's barn. 
"Well, of course we are not building an airport out there," Hutchison said 
Friday evening. "That's another untruthful statement made by Commissioner 
Moody and her lawyer."

He also said the dormitory's construction was approved by the commissioners.

"It most certainly was, and Wanda even voted on it," he said.

Hutchison said his department isn't doing anything wrong.

"We are not going to knowingly do anything to break the law," he said. 
"Would that not fly in the face of the business we are in?"
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MAP posted-by: Beth