Former Deputy Arrested On Domestic Violence Charge: Sheriff

A former Blount County sheriffs' deputy has been arrested for domestic violence by strangulation, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. James William Parsons resigned April 30 after spending about a year on the Blount County force as a provisional deputy.

On May 15, an woman came to the Sheriff’s Office to report a domestic violence incident. The victim reported that she had met Parsons on social media and had begun a relationship with him. She eventually moved in with him at his residence in March.

The victim reported that he would often become angry and on April 1 he choked her until she could not breathe, deputies said. On May 15, the victim moved out of the residence.

On June 6, detectives obtained an arrest warrant charging Parsons with domestic violence by strangulation.

On June 7, Parson was arrested in his driveway and taken to the sheriff’s office to be questioned. When he was taken out of the patrol car at headquarters he attempted to flee on foot while handcuffed. After a brief foot chase, he was captured and taken to the Jefferson County Jail where he is held with no bond.

During the investigation, a second adult female victim reported that she had been sexually assaulted by Parsons while visiting him at his home. The victim reported that she had met him on social media and had begun a dating relationship. While visiting him at his home, he sexually assaulted her, deputies said.

On June 8, detectives obtained an additional arrest warrant charging Parsons with sodomy first degree.

Parsons remains in the Jefferson County Jail with no bond.

Image via Jefferson County Sheriff