A court official in Sevier County, Tenn., said there has not been an official gag order filed preventing Hamilton County school employees or school board members from discussing the alleged assault of an Ooltewah High School freshman by three of his basketball teammates.
The court official said Thursday morning that the judge has not told her to release an order preventing people from discussing the case, and said if an order is released, it’s her understanding it will only prevent defendants in the case from talking.
On Wednesday night, Scott Bennett, the attorney for the Hamilton County Board of Education, said he advised the board in a private executive session not to discuss the case. He said any public comment could hurt the ongoing criminal investigations in both Sevier and Hamilton counties.
Contributed photo. Scott Bennett, the board attorney for Hamilton, Bradley and other school systems.Bennett said he was told by the assistant district attorney in Sevier County that the judge ordered people not to talk about this case.
Bennett’s recommendation influenced school board members to hold a public meeting lasting less than four minutes. Board Chairman Jonathan Welch was the only person to speak during the meeting, as he read a prepared statement.