5:00 UPDATE WEDNESDAY UPDATE
After nearly five hours of deliberations, a jury of 10 women and 2 men returned with 18 guilty verdicts against Scotty Lynn Ridley.
Most notably, Ridley had been indicted on four counts of attempted first degree murder. The jury however found him guilty on two counts of attempted first degree murder and two counts of attempted second degree murder. The first degree convictions were related to gunfire after Ridley arrived at his Gilbreath Road home in Mosheim at the end of the chase. The second degree convictions were related to the gunfire while Ridley was fleeing deputies on Interstate 81.
In addition to the attempted murder convictions, Ridley was also found guilty on six counts of felony reckless endangerment, three counts of aggravated assault, four counts of Employing a Firearm During the Commission of or Attempt to Commit a Dangerous Felony, and Felony Evading.
The jury attached a fine amount conviction. Sentencing is scheduled for September 22nd. Ridley remains incarcerated in the Greene County Dentention Center.
JURY SEATED
Following voir dire and seven submissions, the jury of 10 women and two men was selected Tuesday to hear evidence in the case. Initially, two alternate jurors were chosen, but after a brief break, one of the original jurors notified the judge she had discovered she did know some of those involved in the case. She was dismissed and a female alternate took her seat. One male alternate remained throughout the day.
WHAT STARTED IT ALL
The incident occurred on July 9th of 2023 when Scotty Lynn Ridley was stopped on Highway 160 in Hamblen County. The court documents state a Hamblen County deputy made a traffic stop due to information that Ridley was involved in an earlier domestic dispute and could be driving under the influence. Ridley however, drove away and led authorities on a high-speed chase onto Interstate 81 before then taking Exit 23. During the chase, Ridley fired at deputies several times and again when he arrived at his home on Gilbreath Road.
OPENING STATEMENTS
Defense attorney Travis McCarter pulled no punches in his opening comments saying “yes my client is guilty,” but not guilty of attempted first-degree murder. Using case law, he outlined why his clients level of intoxication and his mental status at the time of the chase were factors not allowing for premeditation, thus the first degree charge. McCarter also claimed the state was framing the case as the “the good guys vs the bad guys”.
POTENTIAL WITNESSES SWORN IN
Nine potential witnesses were sworn in then excused from the courtroom until their testimony was needed. Eventually, only five witnesses were needed for the day, four for the state and one for the defense.
TESTIMONY FOR THE STATE
The only witnesses for the state were the four Hamblen County deputies involved in the chase from Highway 160 in that county to Interstate 81 which eventually ended at the Ridley home on Gilbreath Road in Mosheim.
Now Detective Sgt. Justin Kitts spent the most time of the four on the witness stand. He was a patrolman at the time and was the deputy who made the initial stop of the defendant on Highway 160. An edited thirty eight minute video of in-car camera and body cam footage detailed the traffic stop, the chase and the arrest of the suspect at his home. Other deputies trailing Kitts in the chase who testified Tuesday were K9 officer David Barker, patrolman Wesley Blevins and Patrol Lieutenant Statler Collins. The state spent much of its time with the deputies questioning “fear for their lives” as it pertained to the incident, and especially as it pertained to gunshots being fired from the truck driven by Ridley during the interstate chase and once the defendant arrived at his home in Mosheim. The defense line of questioning with the officers also dealt with the chase.
“I’M NOT GOING BACK TO JAIL, YOU’LL HAVE TO KILL ME”
These are the words Scotty Ridley was heard saying on video just before he fled the scene of the DUI stop which triggered the chase into Greene County. And it was these words his defense attorney continued to lay the groundwork for related to his mental state at the time, even entering the “suicide by cop” scenario.
FOLLOWING THE ARREST
Defense attorneys also questioned the state’s witnesses about the lack of shell casings recovered at the scene, why Ridley was never formally interviewed and why the TBI was never called in on the case.
DEFENSE REQUEST FIRST DEGREE MURDER CHARGES BE DISMISSED
After the state rested its case, the defense made a motion for acquittal of the attempted first degree murder charge. The defense attorney argued the state had not proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The motion for acquittal was overruled by the judge
ONLY ONE DEFENSE WITNESS
The only defense witness to testify was the son of the defendant Logan Scott Ridley. Discussion with the younger Ridley was related to a call he had gotten from his father’s girl friend at the time of the chase and his text messages to and from his father during that time as well. His brief time on the stand was interrupted twice by either sidebar discussions or while the jury had been excused. At issue seemed to be whether “hearsay” could be admitted during the testimony of that particular witness.
RIDLEY IN COURT
Although still incarcerated on $500,000 bond, Ridley was surrounded by this defense team wearing blue jeans and a blue shirt, unlike the department issued clothing worn during a motions hearing two weeks earlier. Typically defendants are dressed in regular attire for an actual trial of this nature.
DEFENDANT IN TEARS
Ridley showed open emotion only once during the day, crying and wiping tears as in opening statements, defense attorney Travis McCarter spoke of him texting his son during the chase telling him “it’s all yours, everything I’ve got is yours.”
GOTTA HAVE A DAY JOB
If the name or look of Ridley’s Co-Council seemed familiar, you might have heard the name Andrew Farmer during legislative discussions. Farmer is a state representative from Jefferson and Sevier County, and the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
LENGTH OF THE TRIAL
Presenting Judge Alex Pearson had said earlier in the day the trial would be finished this week later saying if not Tuesday the case could be sent to the jury Wednesday (today).
JURY POLE
Presiding Judge Alex Pearson then asked for a show of hands from jurors who wanted to continuing hearing closing arguments into the evening. Having seen exactly zero hands raised, the judge recessed court until 9 am Wednesday (today).
