News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Fentress County has settled three lawsuits stemming from the criminal actions of former Sheriff Chucky Cravens.
County Executive Jimmy Johnson said Thursday that the county will pay three female plaintiffs $100,000 each.
“We’ve washed our hands with it at this time and we’re gonna go forward. It’s one of those situations where you have to be careful with who you elect,” Johnson said. “A situation like this should never come about, but sometimes they do. It’s in the past and we are going to go forward at this time.”
Cravens is currently serving a sentence of nearly three years after admitting to providing extra benefits to female inmates in exchange for sexual relationships.
Johnson said payments to the victims will come out of the county fund balance.
“No insurance covers situations like this right here,” Johnson said. “It will take a couple three or four years to put it back in (the budget) because it came out of the taxpayer’s money.”
Cravens will be released from prison in 2020.
