Whitwell police chief James Rodney Easterly. Whitwell’s police chief was indicted Thursday on multiple charges.
A Marion County grand jury indicted James Rodney Easterly, 46, on the following charges:
- Conspiracy to commit theft
- Possession of a controlled substance for resale
- Conspiracy of possession of a schedule III controlled substance
- Fraudulent receipt of food assistance
- Official misconduct
- Theft of property
- Coercion of a witness
- Tampering with or fabricating evidence
- Possession of a firearm during the commission of attempt to commit a dangerous felony
12th District Attorney General Michael Taylor requested an investigation into Easterly in April 2016, according to a release from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The charges stem from events that allegedly took place for several months in 2016, according to the release. A joint investigation by special agents with TBI and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office led to the indictment. Easterly turned himself in to the Marion County Jail Thursday night, according to the release.
His bond was set at $38,000.