William Blount High School engineering instructor Ronald Ryan Craig, 49, was back in Blount County General Sessions Court on Thursday, where a judge hit the brakes on his disorderly conduct case and reset it for next week. Craig, cited in April after an incident at a March track scrimmage, is now scheduled to return to court on May 6.
Judge Halts Plea To Recheck Details
Judge Robert L. Headrick handled the bench conference in Maryville. He is a general sessions judge for Blount County, according to the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts.
Plea Effort Stalls, Case Reset A Week
As reported by The Daily Times, Craig tried to plead guilty on April 29, but the judge required certain, unspecified plea conditions and stopped an initial finding of guilt. Rather than rush it, the parties agreed to bump the case one week on the already busy court calendar.
What Disorderly Conduct Covers In Tennessee
Under Tennessee law, disorderly conduct can include fighting or violent behavior in public, refusing to obey an order to disperse, or creating a hazardous or offensive condition. The statute is codified at T.C.A. § 39‑17‑305, as listed on TnDocket. A violation is a Class C misdemeanor, which the Tennessee Courts say can carry up to 30 days in jail and a small fine.
Allegations From A March Track Scrimmage
According to The Daily Times, the charge traces back to a March 6 track scrimmage at William Blount High School. Deputies wrote that video shows Craig pushing a 16‑year‑old twice and following him to a gate, where a track coach reportedly stepped in. The outlet reported that Craig was issued a citation for disorderly conduct on April 8, placed on administrative leave March 9, and that school administrators said he will no longer coach in the system. The Daily Times also identified him as an engineering instructor who received tenure from Blount County Schools in 2022. He is presumed innocent unless and until there is a valid guilty plea or conviction.
Next Court Date And Where To Find Records
Craig is set to appear again on May 6 in Blount County General Sessions Court. The county clerk's office maintains dockets and public records for that court through the Blount County Circuit Court Clerk. The William Blount High School site lists the campus where the incident was reported and offers contact information for local residents who want to follow the case more closely.
