Kenneth DeHart, defendant in the death of a Blount County deputy sheriff, could face the death penalty

MARYVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Kenneth DeHart Jr., the man accused of shooting two Blount County Sheriff's Office officers in February, wounding one and killing the other, could face the death penalty.

The state filed two briefs on Friday, one of which sought the death penalty, saying it would seek the death penalty in the case that began with DeHart's incarceration earlier this year.

According to BCSO, deputies Shelby Eggers and Greg McCowan stopped DeHart after observing he was driving erratically. During the stop, the situation escalated and DeHart shot at both deputies, injuring Eggers and killing McCowan, according to BCSO.

Previous reporting: “A hero in life and in death” | Who was fallen Blount County Deputy Greg McCowan?

DeHart was also the subject of a five-day manhunt following the shooting. Multiple agencies assisted in the search, including the U.S. Marshals, Knoxville police, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and others. DeHart was arrested at a Knoxville home following the search.

Previous reporting: Kenneth DeHart appears in court after indictment by Blount County Grand Jury

After the state filed its motion, DeHart's own legal representative, Stephen Ross Johnson of Ritchie, Davies, Johnson & Stovall, PC, filed his own motion alleging that there were problems at DeHart's preliminary hearing in February.

Johnson claimed in the filing that DeHart had asked to seek legal counsel for himself, but was not given enough time to do so between his arrest and his preliminary hearing. Johnson said this cost DeHart the chance to obtain appropriate bail in his case and to seek “the suppression of unconstitutionally obtained evidence.”

After his arrest, Sheriff James Lee Berrong stated that DeHart should face the death penalty for his actions.

Also charged in connection with the shooting are DeHart's girlfriend Carrie Matthews, DeHart's brother Marcus DeHart and a man named Maurice Warren. All three were charged with accessory after the fact, BCSO said, for helping DeHart escape.

In April, DeHart was indicted on 21 counts in connection with the case.

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