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SEVIERVILLE — Former Blount County Magistrate Dustin Hatcher could face up to four years in prison after pleading guilty to one charge of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Hatcher, appearing here Tuesday before Sevier County Circuit Court Judge Rex Henry Ogle, pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement reached with Special Prosecutor Al Schmutzer.

According to the terms of the agreement, Hatcher accepted the maximum sentence for the Class D felony, up to four years imprisonment, and waived his right to appeal the sentencing.

“Yes, your honor,” Hatcher said.

Ogle set a sentencing hearing for Aug. 19. He has the option of giving Hatcher judicial deferral, which could eventually remove the conviction from his record, probation or jail time.

“We will ask for all the relief we can possibly ask for,” defense attorney Joe Costner said.

If Hatcher does not receive deferral, he will have to register with the state as a sex offender.

As part of the plea agreement, Ogle dismissed charges of sexual activity involving a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The charge against Hatcher stemmed from an incident that happened around Nov. 30, 2006, at the Blount County Justice Center. According to the complaint report, Hatcher, 26, called a 17-year-old girl into his office and coerced her into putting on lingerie so he could take pictures of her.

“She text messaged him back that ‘this had gone too far’,” Schmutzer said when briefing Judge Ogle on the charges. “She ultimately told her mother.”

Schmutzer said that the girl and Hatcher had met when she had been charged with underage consumption, and that he had promised to take care of the matter. They continued to contact each other for some months prior to the Nov. 30 incident.

A civil suit filed against Hatcher and his father, Blount County Circuit Court Clerk Tom Hatcher, Blount County and the clerk’s office, was settled by the county on Jan. 10, 2007, for $45,000.

Dustin Hatcher resigned from his post as magistrate — a person who signs arrest warrants, approves some search warrants and sets bonds — on Dec. 2, 2006.
Blount County Circuit Court Judge Mike Meares decided to transfer the case to Sevier County, during an October hearing, after motions from both the prosecution and defense meant to limit any possible perception of conflict-of-interest in the case.