Mistress takes stand in federal trial of former disgraced Knox Co. Judge Richard Baumgartner8:47 PM, Oct 25, 2012
Written by WBIR.com
Prosecution and defense attorneys gave opening statements Thursday morning in the trial of disgraced former Knox County Judge Richard Baumgartner.
In opening statements, U.S. attorneys said they will prove that Baumgartner used his power and influence as a judge to cover up the crimes of his mistress, Deena Castleman.
Prosecutors said they will introduce evidence that Baumgartner used a government-issued cell phone to make hundreds of drug deals with Castleman on a cell phone that he bought for her.
They also announced that Baumgartner's former judicial assistant and court clerk of 15 years, Jennifer Judy, will testify against him.
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After opening statements wrapped up Thursday morning, prosecutors began calling witnesses. Ron Hanaver, director of the Knox County Drug Court, was the first witness. Baumgartner was the supervising judge of the drug court, and was Hanaver's boss.
Hanaver told the court that Baumgartner asked him for drug court cell phone so he could keep in better touch with drug court staff. Hanaver said the program is funded by a government-issued grant, which is tax payer dollars. He said the grant paid around $1,000 in charges for Baumgartner's phone between the summer of 2009, when the phone was issued to Baumgartner, and sometime in 2010.
During defense cross-examination of Hanaver, he admitted that Baumgartner's attorney's had requested to interview him prior to the trial starting, but he refused to talk to them.
Deena Castleman was called to testify next. She is currently an inmate at the Anderson County Jail, serving a six year sentence. She was in court in handcuffs, shackled at her waist. Prosecutors subpoenaed her to testify; she told the court she should not be there unless she had to.
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