A 23-year-old man wanted on a strangulation-related felony assault charge has connections stretching across three East Tennessee counties, and investigators are asking the public for help tracking him down. Brandon Scott Thomas McBurnette, listed at 6 feet tall and 165 pounds with a last known address on Pine Ridge Drive in Harriman, is the subject of this week's regional fugitive appeal.
According to East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers, McBurnette is wanted on a charge of aggravated assault by strangulation, along with a separate charge of interference with emergency calls. The organization's Fugitive Friday bulletin lists his date of birth as November 12, 2002, and notes he has connections throughout Knoxville, Oliver Springs, and Harriman, Tennessee.
Those three towns sit across three different counties — Knox, Roane, and Anderson — a spread that helps explain why a regional tip network rather than a single police department is leading the search, as the roster history compiled by FieldLevel shows McBurnette's ties to the Oliver Springs area date back years. McBurnette played wide receiver and defensive back for Oliver Springs High School's varsity football team as part of the Class of 2021, according to MaxPreps records.
The Charges He Faces
Aggravated assault involving strangulation is a Class C felony under Tennessee law, carrying a potential sentence of 3 to 15 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000 for standard offenders, per FindLaw. Strangulation is specifically designated as an aggravating factor under state statute that elevates what would otherwise be simple assault into the more serious felony charge.
The interference with emergency calls charge McBurnette also faces is typically a Class A misdemeanor, as defined under Tennessee code and explained by Justia Law. The statute covers knowingly preventing someone from placing a 911 call or otherwise seeking emergency help, and it frequently accompanies domestic violence charges in cases where a victim's phone was taken or damaged. The specific incident date, the identity of any victim, and the exact jurisdiction that issued the warrant were not detailed in the Crime Stoppers bulletin.
Prior Contact With Knox County
Public arrest records show McBurnette was previously booked into Knox County custody on September 22, 2025, according to Knox County booking records — roughly 11 months before this week's fugitive notice went out. That prior booking places him in the same jurisdiction now leading part of the multi-county search.
This case surfaces amid a wave of statutory and public attention on domestic violence in Tennessee. The state launched the nation's first public domestic violence offender registry on January 1, 2026, under what's known as Savanna's Law, named for slain Robertson County deputy Savanna Puckett, per reporting from Freeman & Fuson. The registry publishes photographs and conviction records for repeat domestic violence offenders statewide.
Locally, Knox County has led Tennessee for three consecutive years in total domestic violence petitions filed, county leaders reported in July, according to WATE 6 On Your Side. That statistic was cited as local officials began building a long-term plan to reduce domestic violence in the county.
How to Submit a Tip
Tipsters can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward if their information leads to an arrest. East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers is asking anyone with information on McBurnette's whereabouts to submit tips directly rather than contacting police independently.
Tips can be phoned in by calling **TIPS or 877-363-8847, texted by sending EastTIPS to 274637 or ETTips to 738477, submitted through the P3 Tips app, or filed online at easttnvalleycrimestoppers.org. The text-tip option through 738477 was introduced in November 2025 to complement the group's existing phone lines and mobile app, giving residents another anonymous way to reach investigators.
The organization offers rewards of up to $2,000 for tips that directly lead to an arrest, felony warrant service, drug seizure, or firearm recovery. Between its May 2021 launch and the end of May 2026, East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers tips have resulted in 625 arrests, 425 cleared cases, and more than $110,000 in cash rewards paid out, underscoring the scale of the regional network now working to locate McBurnette.
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