A Williamson County deputy is facing a stack of criminal counts after a Marshall County grand jury indicted him on Wednesday on multiple voyeurism and stalking charges tied to a domestic dispute. The panel returned six counts of observation without consent, and one count of stalking, and authorities have identified the deputy as Cody King. He was booked into the Marshall County Jail on March 26 on a $10,000 bond and has since been released. The Williamson County Sheriff's Office has suspended him without pay while the case moves forward.
Investigation and indictments
According to NewsChannel 5, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation opened its case on King on Jan. 30 at the request of 17th Judicial District Attorney General Robert Carter. The Marshall County grand jury handed down the indictments on Wednesday, and investigators say the charges are based on allegations involving King's ex-wife. King had served eight years with the Williamson County Sheriff's Office before his suspension, and officials said the agency cooperated fully with the TBI.
What the charges mean under Tennessee law
Tennessee's invasion-of-privacy statute makes it a crime to spy on or view a person who reasonably expects privacy; the offense is typically a Class A misdemeanor but can be more serious in some situations, according to Tennessee Code §39-13-607. The statute states, "It is an offense to knowingly spy upon or observe an individual in a place with a reasonable expectation of privacy." The state has also enacted legislation known as the Voyeurism Victims Act to broaden protections and civil remedies for people targeted by unlawful observation and photography, as outlined by LegiScan.
Department response and next steps
The Williamson County Sheriff's Office said it suspended King without pay and cooperated with the TBI investigation, per NewsChannel 5. Prosecutors in the 17th Judicial District requested the inquiry, and the case will proceed through the local criminal courts. King remains presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court. Officials have not yet released a date for his arraignment.
