KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Kenneth DeHart, the man accused of fatally shooting a Blount County Sheriff’s deputy and injuring another in February 2024, appeared in court Tuesday for a motion hearing that lasted most of the day.
DeHart’s defense team argued that his preliminary hearing should be redone and requested that he be allowed to retain private counsel instead of a public defender. The motion, filed in September, claimed that DeHart was not given sufficient time to obtain counsel of his choice because his preliminary hearing was held just days after his initial court appearance.
During the hearing, two witnesses from the Blount County Public Defender’s office testified that DeHart was not afforded adequate time to secure private representation. Following the defense’s case, the state called witnesses, including Reyburn Angus of the Blount County Sheriff’s Office and Kyle Goins, a compliance officer with the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office.
A notable moment during the hearing was the judge’s decision to quash a subpoena for Blount County General Sessions Court Judge William R. Brewer Jr., whom the defense had sought to compel to testify at the preliminary hearing.
No ruling was issued Tuesday. A decision on the motion for a new preliminary hearing is expected Wednesday.
DeHart was indicted by a grand jury in April 2024 on charges including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and felon in possession of a weapon. The charges stem from a February 8, 2024 shooting on Sevierville Road that left Deputy Greg McCowan dead and Deputy Shelby Eggers injured.
After nearly five days as a fugitive, DeHart was arrested at a Knoxville residence. He was arraigned two days later on February 15, with the preliminary hearing following five days after that.
DeHart’s trial is scheduled for April 13, 2026.
