Jack Mullins, a longtime Hancock County school board member from Sneedville, was indicted Tuesday on a charge of improper influence of a juror, an allegation of jury tampering tied to his own pending criminal case. The 75-year-old was processed at the Hancock County Jail and later released on a $5,000 bond.
According to WATE, special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation opened an inquiry earlier this year and say they collected evidence that Mullins privately contacted a potential juror in an effort to sway a trial's outcome. A Hancock County grand jury returned a single-count indictment for improper influence of a juror, and local coverage reports that Mullins was booked before posting bond. He is listed on the Hancock County Schools board roster and, according to that reporting, is also a candidate in the August school-board election.
Background
The new charge follows a separate 2025 investigation. In October last year, a grand jury returned indictments accusing Mullins of solicitation of a minor and official misconduct after an alleged contact at a Sneedville fitness center, as reported by WVLT. Hoodline previously covered that earlier indictment and the district's statement at the time about prioritizing student safety. That case has already drawn sustained local attention and helps explain why the new allegation is resonating in the community.
Legal stakes
Tennessee law specifically bars privately communicating with a juror in order to influence court proceedings. The statute is codified under Tennessee Code § 39-16-509 and describes the offense commonly called improper influence of a juror, as noted by Justia. Tennessee Courts resources explain that a Class A misdemeanor in the state can carry up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and fines under state sentencing rules. Any conviction for improper influence would be a separate legal matter from the earlier solicitation and official misconduct allegations.
What happens next
Court records available at the time of reporting did not list a public calendar entry for a new appearance tied to this indictment, so the timing for arraignment or pretrial hearings has not yet been confirmed. If the case moves forward, typical next steps would include an arraignment and the scheduling of pretrial motions, and any new filings will be added to the county docket. WATE's reporting also notes that Mullins had been the subject of the earlier prosecution connected to the solicitation allegation and that prosecutors previously took that matter through the local court process.
Local reaction
WVLT previously reported that, following the 2025 indictments, Hancock County Schools told local outlets that student safety was the district's top priority. Given Mullins' profile on the board and his place on the August ballot, the new indictment is surfacing as a point of discussion among residents and local candidates. Representatives for the Hancock County Sheriff's Office and the district did not provide new on-the-record comments beyond what was included in local reporting.
The case underscores how criminal allegations can intersect with local politics and school governance. We will update this story as court filings, official statements, or schedules become available.
