A timeline of the DeHart case thus far

If everything goes according plan, Kenneth DeHart Jr. will appear in Blount County Circuit Court for the first time today, April 5. The 42-year-old Alcoa man, who is accused of shooting and killing Blount County Sheriff’s deputy Greg McCowan during a traffic stop, faces an indictment of 21 charges and is scheduled to appear at 9 a.m.

What to know

Ryan Desmond, Blount County district attorney general, told The Daily Times Thursday he expects the hearing will be brief. DeHart didn’t enter a plea during his appearances in general sessions court, and Desmond said he anticipated a not-guilty plea when the suspect appears before Blount County Circuit Court Judge Tammy Harrington. Mack Garner, public defender for the county, has argued on DeHart’s behalf that the charges should be second-degree murder.

DeHart has been housed in the Loudon County Correctional Facility since his arrest, according to booking data, and will be transported to Blount County for his court date. His name appears on Friday’s circuit court docket alongside dozens of other individuals charged with crimes, so it could take hours to get to his case unless Harrington decides to hear his immediately.

Desmond anticipated the majority of the hearing Friday morning would be devoted to scheduling. A trial date is unlikely, he said, but other dates that might be discussed include scheduling a death penalty notice and a recusal date.

Tennessee law requires prosecutors to give notice of their intent to pursue capital punishment in a case. Desmond, who previously said he would discuss whether to seek the death penalty with the victim’s family, declined to comment Thursday on whether he had reached a decision.

Here’s a timeline of the DeHart case thus far:

Feb. 8 — Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong announces two of his deputies have been shot during a traffic stop on Sevierville Road. Greg McCowan, 43, was pronounced dead at Blount Memorial Hospital. Shelby Eggers, 22, was hit in the leg and returned fire. She was treated at the University of Tennessee Medical Center before being released that night. Investigators identify Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr. as the primary suspect in the shooting.Feb. 9 — Law enforcement charges DeHart’s brother and his girlfriend, Marcus DeHart of Maryville and Carrie Matthews of Sevierville, with accessory after the fact. Although the affidavit for Marcus DeHart’s arrest is vague, Sevier County Sheriff’s Deputies say Matthews received a call from Kenneth DeHart while speaking with them and warned him of their presence. DeHart himself remains at large.Feb. 13 — BCSO SWAT deputies arrest Kenneth DeHart at a home in Knoxville, bringing him back to the Blount County Correctional Facility for booking. A triumphant Berrong announces deputies used McCowan’s handcuffs to arrest the suspect, who is being held without bond.Feb. 14 — Dignitaries from across the state gather to mourn at the funeral of Greg McCowan, whom Tennessee Governor Bill Lee hails as a hero. A procession of law enforcement from dozens of jurisdictions carries his body to its final resting place while hundreds of people gather at roadsides to pay their respects.Feb. 15 — Kenneth DeHart is arraigned during a brief appearance in Blount County General Sessions Court. While three deputies wearing mourning bands take him out of the courtroom, someone in the gallery tells him she loves him. “I love you, too,” he says.Feb. 16 — BCSO gives a preview of bodycam footage of the shooting to an audience of press before releasing the footage online. The video shows a man, identified as DeHart, repeatedly refusing to exit his car when asked by Eggers. McCowan uses a taser on DeHart multiple times before the Alcoa man appears to open fire with a dark handgun. He then opens his door and shoots McCowan again. Eggers returns fire as the suspect drives away.Feb. 20 — A Blount County General Sessions Judge sends DeHart’s case to a grand jury, denying a request from his lawyers to delay the case so he can hire counsel. Witnesses at the hearing include TBI Special Agent Maria Cutshaw and Shelby Eggers, who testifies she stopped a silver Lexus when the driver crossed into oncoming traffic, and that the driver later shot both her and McCowan. When asked to identify the man she stopped, she points to DeHart.March 16 — Surveillance and dash cam footage of DeHart’s transportation shows a wall of law enforcement meeting the suspect at the Blount County jail. He is booked and taken off camera for an interview, which BCSO said it could not release as the footage is evidence in TBI’s case against him.April 1 — A Blount County grand jury indicts DeHart on 21 charges including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and aggravated assault against a first responder. Many of the charges are felonies, while the initial charge for which Eggers said she stopped him — failure to maintain a lane — remains in place.