SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) – A Sevier County grand jury has returned a multi-count indictment against District Attorney General James “Jimmy” Dunn and Assistant District Attorney William Brownlow Marsh, accusing the two prosecutors of orchestrating an unlawful arrest of a local man in 2023.
According to court documents, the charges stem from the May 1, 2023 arrest and detention of Erik Cooper, who prosecutors allegedly targeted after he appeared before a Sevier County grand jury.
The indictment alleges Dunn and Marsh conspired to arrange a “premature and unlawful” arrest of Cooper immediately after he exited grand jury proceedings, with the intent of silencing and intimidating him.
Indictment Details
According to the grand jury presentment, Dunn directed Marsh to obtain an arrest warrant connected to a prior indictment involving Cooper before Cooper’s scheduled grand jury appearance on May 1, 2023.
Court records allege Marsh went to the Sevier County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office seeking the warrant but was informed the document was incomplete because a judge had not yet established a bond amount.
The indictment states Marsh was told the bond information would be finalized later that day. Despite that, prosecutors allege Marsh later obtained a copy of the incomplete warrant after telling court personnel it was only “for his file” and that “no one would see it.”
According to the indictment, Marsh then allegedly provided the incomplete document to Dunn, who in turn supplied it to Sevier County Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Wilds for execution.
Arrest Outside Grand Jury Proceedings
The indictment alleges that before Cooper entered the grand jury room on May 1, 2023, Dunn confirmed with Deputy Wilds that plans for the arrest were in place.
Court documents state that as Cooper exited the proceedings, he was arrested by Wilds using the incomplete warrant copy.
The grand jury alleges the arrest was retaliatory because Cooper had repeatedly exercised his right to appear before Sevier County grand juries and had previously made allegations of misconduct against another assistant district attorney during a March 2023 appearance.
Statute of Limitations Allegations
The presentment argues that prosecution of the alleged offenses is not barred by the statute of limitations because Dunn allegedly concealed facts surrounding the arrest from May 2023 until August 24, 2026.
According to the indictment, the defendants allegedly created the appearance of a lawful arrest, preventing Cooper from discovering the actions that led to his detention. The grand jury also alleges Dunn’s conduct interfered with Cooper’s ability to seek a grand jury indictment that could have tolled the statute of limitations.
Charges Against Dunn and Marsh
James Bruce Dunn
- Official Misconduct / Unauthorized Exercise of Official Power
- Official Oppression
- Retaliation for Past Action Against a Witness
- Conspiracy to Commit Official Oppression
- Coercion of a Witness
- Civil Rights Intimidation
William Brownlow Marsh
- Official Oppression
- Conspiracy to Commit Official Oppression
Presumption of Innocence
The indictment represents allegations returned by a grand jury. Dunn and Marsh are presumed innocent unless and until the charges are proven in court.
The case is expected to draw significant attention across East Tennessee, as Dunn has served for years as District Attorney General for Tennessee’s Fourth Judicial District, which includes Sevier, Cocke, Grainger and Jefferson counties.
