DA, judges recuse themselves from Huntingdon lawyer’s sexual battery case

HUNTINGDON, Tenn. — District Attorney General Matt Stowe and the judges of the 24th Judicial District have recused themselves from the case of a Huntingdon lawyer recently indicted on a sexual battery charge, according to a release from Stowe’s office.

Benjamin Dempsey

Benjamin Dempsey, 67, was indicted Sept. 6 on a charge of sexual battery by the Carroll County grand jury.

“Our Office maintains the highest standards of integrity and recuses whenever we might appear to be too closely tied to the defendant in a favorable or unfavorable way, so that the public can be assured of a fair and unbiased trial,” Stowe said in the release. “Our attorneys have worked closely with Mr. Dempsey over the years and have always enjoyed a respectful and cordial working relationship.”

The judges of the 24th Judicial District also have recused themselves from the case as Dempsey regularly practices before their courts, according to the release.

A formal request has been issued to the Tennessee Supreme Court to designate a judge to preside in the case, the release states.