Actually, Mr. Lockett didn't take any money.
He did some pro-bono work and accepted some barter for his legal expertise.

The reason he's still employed is because the prosecution is well aware of the facts in this case and they simply have no reason to prosecute. The news media, on the other hand, isn't reporting the facts. There are no more journalists, there are just parrots who repeat what they've heard from other parrots and don't actually investigate the facts.

He's "repaying" the law firm that he was in partnership with because he feels its the right thing to do, but he owes them nothing.

You Knoxvillians who beat the man when you perceive him to be down should be ashamed of yourselves! Shame on you for not demanding your media investigate and print the facts in this matter.
Bill Lockett is a good, Christian man and he's dedicated much of his life to this community. We should all be rallying around him and supporting him rather than attacking him.

This attack is being foisted upon him by those in the political arena who are angry that he explained to the voters the facts regarding the combining of county and city governments, and that that referendum failed.
Look to those who wanted it to pass to discover who is behind this back-stabbing.

doc@halebobb.com

I have had the pleasure of taking a business and professional communications class taught by Bill Lockett. I can attest to his great accomplishments, his work ethic, and his overall character. Bill Lockett cares a great deal about Knoxville and its community. Just like anyone else, Bill is subject to the temptations of life and while his admission of taking payment for services without compensating his law firm is surprising, I am sure that it happens on a daily basis around the country. This fact does not provide justification for his actions,however I have spoken with Bill, participated in his class, and I have learned more about Proffessional speaking and good business ethics practices from him than any other class thus far. Bill Lockett is a good man, and it takes extreme courage to publicly state a shortcoming like he has. I stand behind him one hundred percent.

Not only should Bill Lockett resign, he should be arrested and charged with embezzlement! Any other citizen who took money from their employer, in this case his law firm, would be fired, arrested and charged with embezzlement! What makes him think he is above the law?

Sounds like a non-issue to me. To remain employed in a position where high ethical standards and trustworthiness should be assumed, I don't understand why his resignation wasn't delivered along with his confession. If the man doesn't respect himself enough to leave, he should respect the position and the citizens of Knox County. He shouldn't be asked IF he's going to resign, he should be asked what day do they need to lend him a van with which to move out his boxes (after they've been searched for ink cartridges, paper towels, pens, printers, refills, staplers, printer papter, laptops, toilet paper, staplers, you get my drift).

orhs71

There are no ethics for the rich and powerful in this country. The only ethics those for the rest of us to keep us in line so we don`t bother the rich and powerful. There is only one way to fix that problem, however, the majority of people are too chicken to do it.

Since when has the Knoxville mafia been into ethics? Most politicians we have had has done something been somewhere or just looks guilty of something. Sounds to me like buisness as usual. I'm alsmost ready to start voting for inmates in prison, at least we know what they have done.

Should he resign? Definitely! This is one position where I feel that we have to have someone who is totally above reproach. I understand that people are human and we would all do anything necessary for our kids. But to remain in office is to leave both Mr. Lockett and Knox County open to ethics questions for his entire term. Every move he makes, every decision will be open to public scrutiny. Everyone in Knoxville is simply tired of this type of thing being constantly in the media.

Ok, I am officially confused here. From what I can gather about politics in the south, the policy of "you be good to me and I'll be good to you" has evidently worked in the past and is still working. You complain because someone stole money from a law firm 4 yrs ago and now holds a legal position in the county law dept. How is that any different from what we've seen happening in knoxville over the past year? We've seen politians and politcal appointees embezel, misappropriate and down right steal money from the citizens of knoxville and knox county but yet after a big splash in the news it queits down and is business as normal. From what I can see, ALL of the elected officials are crooks and yet we as citizens of knoxville and knox county do nothing so why the fuss now? You all know that nothing will be done and the status quo will remain unchanged.

if he stole before he is probley stealing now. he is a crook and should not have such an important position.