Hello!
I'm reaching out on behalf of concerned citizens of Knox, Blount, and Sevier Counties as well as family members of the accused Kenneth Wayne DeHart, Jr regarding a human rights emergency and institutional racism being played out in our counties. Kenneth Wayne DeHart JR., who was captured and taken to Blount County Jail,

 He was taken to the Blount County before being transferred to Loudon County jail much to the delight of Sheriff James Lee Berrong. It is clear from all his mugshot that was released that he had been beaten and roped-up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Live footage from his capture shows Kenneth peacefully surrendering to authorities with his hands up in a black tee shirt. Officers placing a gun to his head, and being held against the SWAT vehicles for several minutes until he could be cuffed with Officer McGown’s personal handcuffs, which was later in fact released in the press. 

In the mugshot, he even appeared to have strangulation marks around his neck, supporting the allegations of police brutality by the inmate witnesses. Multiple accounts of racism have been placed on Kenneth’s personal page. I am attempting

 

 

 

 

 

 

to bring attention to this matter to get help with getting his trial moved to fair setting. The charge is 1st Degree Murder, premeditated. There is an entire community of citizens that believe this charge is fueled by racism and hate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have every reason to believe that excessive force was also used when DeHart was initially pulled over by Officers Eggers and McCowan, who tazed him multiple times, allegedly because he would not exit the vehicle, after Kenneth requested for a K9 because Officer Eggers stated she smelled marijuana in the vehicle (there are several personal statements/accounts citing Kenneth doesn’t smoke or “sell” marijuana) It is unclear why Officers Eggers refuses this request of K9 and acts upon the excessive force of multiple taser deployments. Leading up to a firearm being discharged

He acted in self-defense, maybe even a state of shock and cannot be tried for first-degree murder/premeditated murder. 

Sherriff Berrong has made several inappropriate statements publicly such as stating that he hopes for the death penalty, stating that it should be up to McCowan's family whether or not they want the death penalty, using McCowan's handcuff's in the arrest, denying the first Preliminary Hearing continuance request to find proper attorney representation, and even appointing him a legally blind public defender.  Sheriff Berrong’s public reasoning for this reveals that his loyalties lie more with the family of the slain officer who has taken oath than to the public with whom he has also sworn to serve and protect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The juxtaposition of treatment of DeHart and his family to that of McCowan's family is damning. One family is living in fear of they and their loved one's lives and the other is receiving accolades in the community, given the chance/time to grieve and overall offered strong community support. What kind of message does that send to the innocent children of both parties and their peers at school? This is how the seeds of intergenerational racism are planted and we will not allow that to be Kenneth Wayne DeHart's legacy. He is a good father, son, brother, uncle, partner and active member of the community. Taking him away from his family and community, subjecting he and his family to fear and police brutality, while flaunting the fact on social media, exposes the grave failures of law enforcement justice system.

We will not allow Kenneth Wayne DeHart to be the latest scapegoat of a broken law enforcement system and we will stop at nothing to protect and uphold Kenneth's untold truth until he is given the opportunity to do so.

YouTube Search: Kenneth Wayne DeHart, Jr Blount County 

Facebook: K Wayne DeHart
To donate to legal fees or children: $jeanisha33 (Niece)