By JEFF FARRELL

Staff Writer

SEVIERVILLE — A former kitchen supervisor at the Sevier County Jail pleaded guilty Tuesday to a single count of having sexual contact with an inmate.

Paul Lintner faces one to two years in jail and a fine of up to $3,000 for the felony charge. His sentence was not set in the plea agreement; Circuit Judge Richard Vance will determine that at a Dec. 8 hearing.

With the guilty plea, the state dropped five additional charges against Lintner.

District Attorney General Jimmy Dunn said the state wants Lintner to serve time in jail.

The attorney representing the former inmate that Lintner victimized said they were satisfied with the plea. “We are happy with the guilty plea, and it reflects what our investigation showed,” Dana Pemberton said. “We appreciate the efforts of the district attorney’s office and particularly Assistant District Attorney Steve Hawkins.”

The Mountain Press generally does not identify victims of sex crimes. The victim in this case has filed a federal complaint against the county seeking $15 million in damages. A second inmate has filed a complaint claiming Lintner harassed him, but did not have intercourse with him.

While Lintner announced he was pleading guilty, his defense attorney, Charles Sexton, indicated Lintner was taking the plea because it was in Lintner’s best interest.

Neither Linter nor Sexton answered questions as they left the courthouse. Lintner remains free on bond pending sentencing.

As Hawkins outlined the state’s case against Lintner, he indicated Lintner was exchanging favors for trusties for sex.

“Mr. Lintner was over the kitchen and also had under his command several trusties who lived separately and worked under his supervision,” Hawkins told Vance.

He once took the victim to Food City to visit the inmate’s mother, who worked there, and also took the victim to visit his family on Christmas while he was incarcerated. The victim’s family took pictures that day with Lintner visible in the photographs, Hawkins said. Lintner also paid the victim’s mother about $2,500 while the man was in jail.

Lintner continued trying to call the victim after the man was released, although the man wanted no further contact with Lintner, Hawkins said.

Hawkins also said that another former inmate would have testified to having seen Lintner and the victim having sex.

Lintner became kitchen supervisor after serving time at the jail for forgery.

According to documents from the state court of appeals, he had also been convicted of tax evasion, but was actually believed to have taken almost $800,000 from a previous employer.

“Appellant was apparently never punished directly for his embezzlement of $785,731 from his previous employer, rather he was convicted of federal tax evasion in connection with the embezzled funds,” Appellate Judge Jerry Smith wrote.

Lintner was sentenced to 21 months in prison for that conviction, and then placed on probation.

“While on federal probation he committed the instant (forgery) offenses using forgery to steal from his subsequent employer,” Smith wrote. “It is clear that measures less restrictive than continuous confinement have not made an impact on appellant.”

The court was actually ruling on an appeal by Lintner for alternative sentencing on the forgery conviction. It ruled he should complete his sentence.

Lintner served his time for that forgery conviction in the Sevier County Jail. Upon his release, he was hired as the jail’s kitchen supervisor, where he was placed in charge of county funds and of trusties.

He was hired during the tenure of the late Sheriff Bruce Montgomery.

Current Sheriff Ron Seals declined to comment on the specifics of the case. He did say it would have been a violation of the rules for Lintner to take an trusty for a visit with family.

“It would be out of the realm to go to the mom’s house,” he said.

Former sheriff’s deputy and sheriff candidate Kim Pierce has been outspoken about Lintner’s hiring and behavior.

“I feel very vindicated,” she said Tuesday. “There were a lot of people who were passing me off as crazy.”

She said she preferred to see Lintner convicted on all counts against him.

“Ultimately I guess I’m disappointed with only one count,” she said. “I am happy that he owned up to what he’d done.”

She credited the victim for coming forward when many men in similar situations wouldn’t.

“There’s a lot of men who wouldn’t do what (he) did,” Pierce said.

jfarrell@themountainpress.com