Oliver Springs Man Sentenced for Putting Referee in Headlock after Being Ejected from April Basketball Game

In April, court records showed that Crass had gotten into an argument with a referee during a game. (Courtesy: JIMS)

Oliver Springs Man Sentenced for Putting Referee in Headlock after Being Ejected from April Basketball Game

Posted on June 19, 2025

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) An Oliver Springs man facing an assault charge for putting a referee in a headlock during a basketball event at Grace Christian Academy is sentenced.

Jerry Crass was granted judicial diversion for an 11-month-29-day sentence for the April incident. The sentence means Crass avoids jail time but only if he does not incur another charge during that time.

According to court records, officers used video footage taken from witnesses to identify Crass as the suspect who assaulted the referee after being ejected from the game and then pushed a woman believed to be his wife when she tried to intervene.

In April, court records showed that Crass had gotten into an argument with a referee during a game. (Courtesy: JIMS)

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