BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — The man accused of killing a Blount County deputy and wounding another in February pleaded not guilty to all 21 charges filed against him in court Friday.
A grand jury indicted Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr. in April on charges of premeditated first-degree murder in Deputy Greg McCowan's death and attempted first-degree murder for shooting Deputy Shelby Eggers. State prosecutors filed notice in September they would be seeking the death penalty.
DeHart is charged with attempted premeditated first-degree murder, two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and being a felon in possession of a handgun.
He's also charged with three counts of employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony and two counts of aggravated assault against a first responder.
In addition to those charges, DeHart is facing reckless endangerment, tampering with evidence, evading arrest with risk of death or serious bodily injury, aggravated assault, resisting arrest and failure to maintain a lane.
DeHart's next hearing was scheduled for March 31, 2025, and he is scheduled to face trial on April 13, 2026, according to the Blount County Clerk's office.
The charges are connected to events police said occurred on Sevierville Road in Blount County on the night of Feb. 8. McCowan was shot and killed and Eggers was wounded. DeHart is accused of shooting the pair following a traffic stop.
Eggers survived her wounds and testified at a preliminary hearing for the case on Feb. 20.