BEDFORD COUNTY JUDGE CHARGED WITH PERJURY

Chattanooga A 65yearold Bedford County judge lied when he testified
that he knew nothing about his livein girlfriend's drug use, and he
even smoked marijuana with her, according to an indictment unsealed
Monday.

General Sessions Judge Wyatt Nowlin Taylor was arrested Monday by FBI
agents as he walked into his courthouse in Shelbyville. He was charged
with 10 counts of perjury and faces up to 50 years in prison if
convicted.

Taylor, who also serves as the county's juvenile court judge, is accused
of lying during grand jury testimony in 1996 and at a federal trial in
1997 both involving drug charges against his girlfriend, Brenda
Farrar Gordon, 30.

Authorities charge that from 1994 to 1996, Taylor knew Gordon used and
distributed marijuana and crack cocaine, and that they used marijuana
together.

Gordon agreed to work with the FBI in 1996 and taped conversations with
Taylor about her drug use, the indictment says.

But at her trial in April, Taylor testified he never knew she was
involved with drugs.

He denied Gordon told him that she, her sister and her father bought
crack cocaine from dealers including her uncle, Harold Farrar, ``one of
the biggest crack cocaine dealers in Shelbyville,'' according to the
indictment.

Taylor appeared before U.S. Magistrate John Y. Powers in Chattanooga on
Monday. He was released on $10,000 bond and an arraignment was set for
Dec. 1, where he will enter a plea and a January trial date will be set.

Attorney John Norton told Powers he would likely represent Taylor, but
he first wanted to review how that might affect cases his law firm has
pending before Bedford County General Sessions Court, where Taylor is
the only judge.

Taylor, who entered the courtroom with his hands cuffed in front of him,
was solemn during most of the hearing. Afterward, he was overheard
telling an investigator from Norton's office that he ``had to put his
trust in the Lord'' and that he couldn't worry about whether people in
Shelbyville believed he was innocent or guilty.

``I know I'm telling the truth,'' he said.

Norton said Taylor will continue his duties as judge ``because he has no
reason not to.''

``He will not be holed up in his residence weathering out the storm,''
Norton said. ``He will be visible and public.''

Taylor does not have to resign his judgeship because of the charges.
Supreme Court spokeswoman Sue Allison said if Taylor is convicted ``he
will be deemed to have resigned,'' but until then can continue to serve
on the bench.

The charges against Taylor are the latest in a 30month probe into drug
trafficking in Bedford County, about 100 miles northwest of Chattanooga.

Gordon was one of 18 people from Shelbyville and Nashville charged with
federal drug offenses in April 1997. She and four family members were
convicted. She is serving a 10year prison term in Ohio.

Taylor, a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, earned his law
degree in 1964 from the YMCA Night School of Law, now the Nashville
School of Law. He was appointed to fill an unexpired term as General
Sessions Court judge in 1980.

He won election to the bench in 1982, was reelected in 1990, and had
announced he will run again in 1998.