Former Blount magistrate trial date set for next year

By Joel Davis
of The Daily Times Staff

Former Blount County Magistrate Dustin Hatcher briefly appeared in court on Thursday as Circuit Court Judge Mike Meares set a trial date for early next year.
If all goes as scheduled, Hatcher’s trial will begin March 4, 2008. He is accused of charges related to allegedly taking lewd pictures of a 17-year-old girl while working for the county in late 2006.

Hatcher didn’t speak during the hearing, which was devoted to administrative matters. Meares took the opportunity to set a deadline for either side to file any motions for change of venue.

“If there is any question about Mr. Hatcher’s ability to get a fair hearing in Blount County, I want to have it in writing by Oct. 8,” he said to Joe Costner, Hatcher’s attorney, and Special Prosecutor Al Schmutzer Jr.

When asked how long to schedule the trial for, Costner said it was too early to tell until the District Attorney General’s Office turned over records related to the case.

“We don’t really know how to gauge that,” he said.

A formal arraignment will be held Jan. 4.

Hatcher is charged with sexual activity involving a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The alleged victim was named in the indictment, but due to the nature of the charges she is not being identified by The Daily Times.

The first charge against Hatcher stems from an incident that allegedly happened on or about Nov. 30 at the Blount County Justice Center. Hatcher, 25, Sevierville Road, Maryville, is accused of calling the 17-year-old girl into his office and coercing her into putting on lingerie so he could take pictures of her.

The charge centers on the allegation that Hatcher took pictures of the girl’s bare breasts. A civil suit filed last December against Hatcher, his father Blount County Circuit Court Clerk Tom Hatcher, Blount County and the clerk’s office, was settled by the county on Jan. 10 for $45,000.

Dustin Hatcher resigned from his post as magistrate — a person who signs arrest warrants, approves some search warrants and sets bonds — on Dec. 2. According to Blount County Jail records, he is free on a $25,000 bond.