Campbell County High School shooter gets time served - and more Chattanooga region news

School shooter gets time served

JACKSBORO, Tenn. - A former Campbell County High School student who was convicted of reckless homicide for fatally shooting an assistant principal has been sentenced to time served.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reported Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood ruled Monday during a sentencing hearing against a defense motion for judicial diversion for Kenneth Bartley, which could have wiped clean his criminal record.

A jury convicted Bartley in February of reckless homicide for the November 2005 shooting of Vice Principal Ken Bruce. He was acquitted of two other counts.

Bartley was 14 when he shot and killed Bruce during a confrontation in the principal's office. Bartley, now 22, served more than eight years in prison after a guilty plea that he appealed.


Skeletal remains found during search

COOSA, Ga. - Authorities in Northwest Georgia are awaiting autopsy results on skeletal remains found during a search for a missing man over the weekend.

Floyd County police Cpl. Mary Catherine Parris told the Rome News-Tribune that authorities are unsure of how the man died.

Parris said authorities believe the remains found Saturday are those of a 21-year-old Coosa man who was reported missing in early November.

Sheriff Tim Burkhalter said the man erased the contents of his computer hard drive and cellphone before he disappeared.


Ex-postal workers lied for benefits

KNOXVILLE - Federal officials said two former U.S. Postal Service workers from Maryville, Tenn., have admitted to lying to collect government benefits by falsely claiming that one of the pair was so injured she couldn't work.

Federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's office in Knoxville said the couple was caught after video captured the two taking a cruise, walking for hours at a time at different ports, followed by a trip to Disneyland.

Officials said that on Friday 61-year-old Carol J. Pazder pleaded guilty to making false statements to obtain federal employee benefits. Her husband, 67-year-old Richard Pazder, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting in the false statements. Prosecutors said both claimed that Carol Pazder was so injured she could only walk, stand or sit for a few minutes.


Press seeks access to Haslam speeches

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Capitol Hill press corps is asking Gov. Bill Haslam to let them know when he is going to make a speech.

A letter emailed to Haslam's office Friday said reporters were aware of at least five events in the previous month that were not listed on Haslam's public schedule. They include speeches to the Tennessee Medical Association and the Tennessee Municipal League.

In a response sent Monday, Haslam Director of Communications Alexia Poe said the governor had been available to Tennessee media on 32 of the 68 business days in 2014. She said the governor's office follows the lead of the groups that invite Haslam to speak on whether to allow media.

That is a change from Gov. Phil Bredesen, who allowed media to attend all speeches.

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