BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. (Story courtesy of WVLT) – Kenneth DeHart, the man accused of killing Blount County Deputy Greg McCowan in 2024, has been indicted by a grand jury on 21 counts.
DeHart appeared in court on Monday, April 13 requesting for a bond hearing. DeHart is currently being held in jail with no bond, Dehart’s defense team is requesting a bond for him so he could be released on a bond before trial.
The Blount County Judge is taking the arguments under advisement and will issue a ruling later.
A Blount County Grand Jury re-indicted DeHart on 21 counts, including the following:
- First-degree murder (premeditated)
- Attempted first-degree murder (premeditated)
- Two counts of felon in possession of a firearm
- Felon in possession of a handgun
- Three counts of employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony
- Three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony
- Two counts of aggravated assault against a first responder
- Reckless endangerment
- Tampering with evidence
- Evading arrest with risk of death or serious bodily injury
- Aggravated assault
- Resisting arrest
- Failure to maintain lane
Additionally, more than 100 people were summoned by the state for the preliminary hearing, including people with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Maryville Police Department, Alcoa Police Department and AMR.
This comes after Judge Tammy Harrington granted DeHart a new preliminary hearing last year, saying he was not given enough time to hire a private lawyer to represent him instead of being represented by an assigned public defender.
DeHart is accused of shooting and killing Deputy Greg McCowan during a traffic stop on Feb. 8, 2024. Another deputy, Shelby Eggers, was also injured.
What followed was a manhunt for DeHart, who drove away from the scene as Eggers was trying to treat herself and McCowan while waiting for backup. He was taken into custody five days later.
DeHart is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment on Feb. 18.
