ROGERSVILLE — A motion to reduce the $100,000 bond for a man accused of sexually abusing his step-granddaughter two years ago was denied Monday in Hawkins County Criminal Court by Judge John Dugger.
William Britton Hatley, 61, 216 Kinley Lane, Rogersville, appeared before Dugger on Monday in Rogersville on three counts of aggravated sexual battery related to sealed indictments handed down by the Hawkins County Grand Jury on June 1.
Hatley has been in jail on $100,000 bond since being served with those indictment warrants on June 5.
His arraignment was waived Monday by his attorney Doug Godbee, who also made a lengthy argument for a reduced bond.
The sexual batteries are alleged to have occurred between May and July 2010 while the child was 11; after the child turned 12 between July and October 2010; and between October and December 2010.
Godbee noted that Hatley is disabled, can’t read or write, and that detectives, “brought in a lie detector and supposedly got him to confess to something.”
Godbee added that the grand jury presentments are two years old and that Hatley has had contact with the child over the subsequent two years with no complaints.
Other arguments made by Godbee on Hatley’s behalf include that he was told by the Department of Children’s Services that the case had been closed and that there were no witnesses listed on the indictments.
Hatley is a lifelong resident of Hawkins County with no previous criminal record, Godbee told the court.
Dugger said Godbee had made a strong argument on his client’s behalf. Dugger added, “The court believes it set the bond correctly the first time.”
Dugger scheduled Hatley’s trial for Oct. 15.