Former Knox County Trustee Aide Avoids Jail After Guilty Plea

Jason Dobbins pleaded guilty to official misconduct and was granted judicial diversion.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 8:19pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a car key and a stack of cash, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the misuse of public property and improper financial gains at the expense of taxpayers.A recent wave of alleged misconduct in the Knox County Trustee's Office has exposed the need for tighter controls over public resources and property transactions.Bristol Today

Jason Dobbins, the former operations director for the Knox County Trustee's Office, pleaded guilty to a felony count of official misconduct and was granted judicial diversion, avoiding jail time. Dobbins was accused of misusing a county vehicle for personal errands and profiting from a property 'flip' scheme involving delinquent tax properties.

Why it matters

The case highlights ongoing concerns about oversight and accountability within the Knox County government, with the state comptroller's report urging tighter controls over county vehicles and tax sale practices. The plea deal resolves one part of a broader probe into the trustee's office, but residents are watching to see if new policies and oversight will be implemented.

The details

According to the Tennessee Comptroller's investigative report, Dobbins used a county vehicle for personal errands outside of normal business hours from August 2024 to February 2025, racking up at least $761 in mileage. The report also found that Dobbins accessed a nonpublic 'prospect list' of delinquent properties and that two lots bought at a 2024 tax sale for about $3,733 were later sold in March 2025 for roughly $67,000, with Dobbins and a partner gaining more than $102,000 from those and related transactions.

  • In April 2025, Knox County Trustee Justin Biggs fired Dobbins after internal auditors began reviewing spending and vehicle use in the office.
  • In August 2025, a grand jury indicted Dobbins on two counts of official misconduct.
  • On April 2, 2026, Dobbins pleaded guilty to one felony count of official misconduct and was granted judicial diversion.

The players

Jason Dobbins

The former operations director for the Knox County Trustee's Office who pleaded guilty to official misconduct and was granted judicial diversion.

Justin Biggs

The Knox County Trustee who fired Dobbins in April 2025 after internal auditors began reviewing spending and vehicle use in the office.

Tennessee Comptroller

The state agency that conducted an investigative report detailing Dobbins' misconduct, including the misuse of a county vehicle and profiting from a property 'flip' scheme.

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What’s next

County officials have told investigators they have fixed or intend to fix the problems highlighted in the comptroller's report, including tightening control over vehicles and documenting any travel exceptions. Residents are watching to see whether new policies and oversight will be implemented to address the broader issues raised by the audit's findings.

The takeaway

This case underscores the need for stronger oversight and accountability within the Knox County government, particularly when it comes to the use of public resources and the handling of tax-delinquent properties. The plea deal resolves one part of a larger probe, but the community will be closely monitoring whether meaningful reforms are enacted to prevent similar abuses in the future.