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Monday, November 9, 2026Nov 9

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94-year-old TN judge arrested on aggravated assault charge

William Lawrence Tunnell
William Lawrence Tunnell William Lawrence Tunnell
photo William Lawrence Tunnell

OAK RIDGE – The 94-year-old alternate Oak Ridge city judge is free on a $50,000 signature bond on an aggravated assault charge for allegedly striking a good Samaritan with his car, knocking him to the ground.

“There’s not a word of truth to any of this thing,” William Lawrence Tunnell said Wednesday morning of the charge formally filed against him last week in connection with a Nov. 21 incident. He declined further comment, other than saying he took a “bad, bad fall” that day.

Tunnell, reported to be Tennessee’s oldest practicing attorney, allegedly struck Charles Smallwood with his vehicle after Smallwood and others helped Tunnell to his feet after he fell at the intersection of Waltham Lane and West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge.

Read more from our news partner at KnoxNews.com.