East Tennessee prosecutor sentenced in sex case

Monday, October 1, 2012

DANDRIDGE, Tenn. - A former Hawkins County prosecutor has been sentenced to two years of probation after pleading no contest in a sex-for-leniency scandal.

Doug Godbee served as Rogersville's chief prosecutor for more than 30 years. He resigned in September 2010 amid allegations he solicited, and in some cases received, sexual favors from female defendants and/or their mothers.

The Kingsport Times-News reports Godbee entered the plea on Monday in Jefferson County Criminal Court. He was charged with felony official misconduct.

Godbee's sentence includes 200 hours of community service.

Among the conditions of his probation, he must undergo a mental evaluation and complete therapy and counseling he started after his indictment in April 2011.

He is also disbarred from practicing law in Tennessee.