FBI arrests Roane County judge [Tennessee]

Knoxville News Sentinel ^ | 1/23/6 | JAMIE SATTERFIELD

[SmithL]

Roane County Sessions Court Judge Thomas A. Austin was arrested this morning by the FBI as part of an undercover probe into a driving school.

Kingston Police Chief Jim Washam confirmed Austin was taken into custody as he arrived about 8:30 a.m. at the Roane County Courthouse.

Washam said it was his understanding that the FBI and TBI were the lead agencies in the probe.

"We've known for a short period of time that there's been an investigation going on," Washam said.

Asked about the specifics of the charges, Washam said, "There's been so many rumors floating around, I guess we'll see."

Roane County District Attorney General Scott McCluen this morning said he could not comment on the arrest and referred questions to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Acting U.S. Attorney Russ Dedrick also declined to comment.

The investigation centers around a driving school where Austin sent traffic offenders.

Washam said none of his officers had been interviewed "because we've got our own driving school."

Austin should be brought to the federal courthouse in Knoxville for an initial appearance later today.

[SmithL]

It's a start.

[proudpapa]

oh no! A judge in cahoots with a driving school! This could be hugh!

[right right]

Hugh the heck is hugh???

[trebb]

Could be both hugh and series!

[trebb]

Old joke - if you had been around for a few years, you would enjoy it.

[Semper Paratus]

A judge in cahoots with a driving school!

They made a movie about that starring Sally Kellerman as the Judge.

[Red Badger]

Stune him with your Beeber-like device..........

[proudpapa]

There's a rumor floating around that
the judge is a real Clymer.

[Old Professer]

Part of Freeperspeak in "honor" of our many malaprops.

[right right]

Maybe that too, but I see hugh on a lot of sites/places used for huge. Just being a harseyarsey this AM. Best of luck!

[Pirate21]

Could be both hugh and series!
Stune him with your Beeber-like device..........

ROFL! You guys are killin' me.

[jmaroneps37]

No party mentioned, so I assume........

[oyez]

All your driving school are belong to us!

[oyez]

The FBI in Tennessee is to busy investigating the state and local governments to deal with anything else.

[Emmett McCarthy]

We had a judge here in Nashville doing the same thing not too many years ago. He'd send you to a driving school and not put the points on your license, but it turned out that he either owned the driving school or had some financial interest in it. I can't remember the full details and the whole thing went away when the judge put a bullet in his own head.

[sure_fine]

a good start too

[proudpapa]

LOL!

[EQAndyBuzz]

I'm Stuned I tell ya.

[FreedomFarmer]

OhOhOh! Fondue Freeper! 2 points!

[billhilly]

"Hugh the heck is hugh???"

How is hugh and how hugh is he?

[ASA Vet]

It's a series attempt at humor.

[babydoll22]

He's dead Jim.

[sausageseller]

Looks like this guy will win:

http://www.jeffwicks.com/pages/1/

Early in 2005, Jeff considered running against Scott McCluen for District Attorney General, but after discussions with many friends and family, Jeff has decided to run for General Sessions Court Judge, a position currently held by Judge Thomas A. Austin.

Wonder if he was told of the investigation? Watch him sanitize his web page now.

[Red Badger]

IZZE Jane Fondue?........

[SmithL]

I'm glad that I've NEVER hijacked a thread like this.

---

Well, at least not lately.

OK, define lately.

[FreedomFarmer]

The Larch.

[Red Badger]

Okay, I'll bite. What's a Larch?..........

[sure_fine]

A clerk in the Sessions Clerk's Office would only say the judge was unavailable today.

A woman who answered the phone at Judge Austin's home told Volunteer TV that she was the housekeeper and then hung up.

A spokesperson with the US Attorney's Office in Knoxville also declined comment. We checked for a search warrant, but there is not yet one on file. In cases like this, those warrants are often sealed.

No word yet on the reason for the probe but the Knoxville News Sentinel reports that it centers around a driving school where Austin sent traffic offenders.

We are continuing to investigate. We'll have the latest tonight at 5:30.

http://www.volunteertv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4397523

[BJClinton]

hugh,series and stuned beeber

[oyez]

We have a lot of strange customes here. You say the magic word and all Hell brakes loose.

[cva66snipe]

They made a movie about that starring Sally Kellerman as the Judge.

Moving Violations? Remember the "Where's the beef woman?" LOL