(August 4, 2014) Jackson TN – The District Attorney Pro-Tem has decided not to seek criminal charges against Madison County Sheriff’s Deputy employee Sharon Sangster for secretly video taping a sexual encounter with former Madison County Sheriff David Woolfork.
Mark Donahoe says case-law disagrees with the District Attorney decision and the he has additional evidence that demonstrates conspiracy.
Woolfork’s attorney, Mark Donahoe asked for an investigation after Constable Frankie Lax testified in circuit court that he was aware and had viewed the secret tape. He also testified that he took possession of the tape, and on at least on occasion delivered Sangster to the office of Jackson businessman Jimmy Wallace. During questioning by Donahoe, Lax stated that he knew Wallace had also viewed the video tape.
Tennessee Code has a statute that protects a person from being unknowingly photographed under certain circumstances. The code is TCA 39-13-605. Based on that and other reasons attorney Donahoe asked the D.A’s. office for an investigation.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation conducted interviews and turned the information over to Thomas Thomas, the District Attorney for the 27th district. On Monday his office announced. in a letter, that;
“Under the circumstances that existed at the time of the recording, it appears to me that the sheriff would not have a “reasonable” expectation of privacy from Ms Sangster.” the letter goes on to read, “There is also no evidence that the videos were taken for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification”
Thomas wrote that for the reasons he had given he declined to pursue criminal charges against Sharon Sangster and was requesting the T.B.I close the file in this matter.
Mark Donahoe told WNWS that he was disappointed by the evaluation of the evidence. Donahoe questioned why the other people who viewed the tape had not been included and stated he has additional evidence that will show the intent was political and those involved conspired to create testimony and to create factual situation which was untrue.
Woolfork did not finish his 5th term as Madison County Sheriff. Chief Deputy Tommy Cunningham was appointed to complete the remaining four months of the term. Retired Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, SAC, John Mehr and retired Jackson Police Chief Rick Staples are candidates for the office. The election is August 7, 2014
