Nearly one year after Knox County Trustee Justin Biggs fired his longtime friend and deputy, Jason Dobbins, over “policy violations,” Dobbins pleaded guilty to felony misconduct.
In a plea deal finalized April 2, Dobbins accepted responsibility for using his taxpayer-leased county truck for personal use, including a trip out of state. He also was charged with felony misconduct over misuse of knowledge of real estate tax sales, but that charge was dismissed as part of the deal.
A state watchdog investigation that mirrored Knox News reporting also ensnared Property Assessor Phil Ballard after records showed he drove a county vehicle but took reimbursement for driving his personal vehicle. He is awaiting trial on one felony count of official misconduct…