DRUG TRAFFICKER SAYS HE MADE DEAL WITH SHERIFF

Says He Was Paid to Build Airstrip, Hangar

A convicted drug trafficker testified Tuesday he made a secret agreement
with Knox County Sheriff Tim Hutchison last year to build an airstrip and
hangar for the department's six helicopters in Mascot.

Scott S. Walker, who is going to federal prison in less than two weeks,
testified the deal was quietly reached in August 2001, to avoid the need
for County Commission approval or scrutiny.

"They (the sheriff's office) didn't want that," Walker testified during a
hearing before Knox County Chancellor Daryl R. Fansler.

He also testified that, in return, the sheriff's office paid him four times
as much rent as he initially sought - and he indicated that at least one
high-ranking sheriff's supervisor knew about his drug conviction.

"I was offered the higher rent to built the hangar and facilities they
needed," Walker testified, adding that the sheriff offered him something else.

"Sheriff Hutchison told me they would provide me with labor to help clean
up and (erect) the building," Walker said.

When asked what kind of labor, Walker replied, "Jail labor, prisoners."

Hutchison has denied that he knew about Walker's drug conviction or that
his office was involved in a construction project with Walker.

On Tuesday, Chief Deputy Dwight Van de Vate sharply dismissed Walker's
allegations.

Van de Vate, speaking during a recess in the hearing, noted that Walker is
a convicted drug felon while Hutchison has been elected to office four
times and was once selected as Sheriff of the Year by a national organization.

"I can tell you whose testimony I would believe," Van de Vate said.

Walker's testimony came during a hearing on a motion seeking to find
Hutchison in contempt of court in connection with a Public Records Act
request that Knox County Commissioner Wanda Moody filed last January.

Moody sought records related to a lawsuit she filed against Hutchison. It
contends the sheriff can't use taxpayer money for things like construction
projects and maintaining aircraft or horses without County Commission approval.

Moody's attorney, Herbert S. Moncier, argues in the contempt petition that
Hutchison repeatedly misled the court about the existence of public records
and refused to turn over records in response to her request for public records.

Van de Vate, though, said the office has misled no one. He said authorities
have tried to keep up with what he referred to as numerous records requests
by Moncier and Moody. He said the office has spent thousands of dollars
responding to those requests.

"We do not think we will ever provide enough documents to satisfy them,"
Van de Vate said.

Moncier argues that the only document the sheriff's office has turned over
in reference to Walker, a Gatlinburg businessman and professional pilot,
was a "Landing Fee Agreement" between the county and Walker Aviation
Services LLC.

The agreement, signed in September 2001, called for the county to pay
Walker Aviation at least $2,700 a month for the use of Walker's field.

Moncier argued Tuesday in court that the sheriff's office knew of other
documents, including the alleged private construction agreement, between
Walker and the sheriff's office.

The lawyer also gave the court a copy of a proposed lease that addresses
improvements to the field. Walker's former lawyer, Brent Lowe, testified
the lease was scrapped in favor of the "Landing Fee Agreement," which did
not include any reference to construction.

Lowe also confirmed the existence of a private agreement between Hutchison
and Walker to improve the field.

In rebuttal, Deputy County Law Director Mary Ann Stackhouse elicited
testimony from Walker and Lowe that only Walker's signature is on the
agreement. Neither Hutchison's signature, nor that of anyone else with the
sheriff's office, appears on the document, the men testified.

Stackhouse also elicited testimony from Walker that he plans to sue the county.

Stackhouse asked if his testimony would help that effort.

Walker replied, "I don't know if it would or not."

Walker was caught with a 300-pound load of marijuana - bound for Sevier
County - during a fuel layover at a Louisiana airport on Feb. 20, 2000.

He later pleaded guilty to federal drug conspiracy charges.

But he testified that in mid-summer of 2001, after pleading guilty in a
sealed plea but before being sentenced, he approached the sheriff's office
about using his airstrip off Mine Road.

Walker said he wanted "$600 or $700" a month when he met with Hutchison and
Capt. Tom Spangler, who leads the sheriff's aviation unit.

Spangler has yet to testify.

Walker said Hutchison and Spangler asked him if, in exchange for more
money, he would make improvements including adding a hangar, office as well
as some lighting and paving.

He testified he ended up signing the "Landing Fee Agreement" on Sept. 4,
and the sheriff's office used the strip until Dec. 28, 2001.

At that time, according to Walker, Moncier contacted him about his dealings
with the sheriff.

Walker, in turn, said he contacted sheriff's officials to tell them Moncier
was going to make the agreement and his criminal record public. Walker said
sheriff's authorities subsequently pulled their aircraft from his field.

They pulled out, Moncier said, "and left you with what?"

Walker replied, "A hole in the ground."

The contempt hearing will continue on Thursday.