Former Sevier County Corrections Officer Faces Assault, Misconduct Charges

A former Sevier County corrections officer is being held in a Michigan jail awaiting extradition to Tennessee to face charges resulting from an altercation with an inmate while on duty at the Sevier County Jail.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced Wednesday that a recent Sevier County Grand Jury returned indictments charging former Sevier County Corrections Officer Rudolph “Rudy” Guy Hayes, 19, with aggravated assault and official misconduct.

At the request of District Attorney General James Dunn and Sheriff Ronald Seals, the agency began investigating an altercation that occurred on Sept. 23, 2016, at the Sevier County Jail and found that Corrections Officer Hayes confronted inmate Anthony Rendina after he caused a disturbance. An altercation occurred that resulted in Rendina being hospitalized with serious injuries. Hayes was fired a few days later.

On Nov. 2, 2016, Hayes was located at the home of a relative in Michigan. He was arrested and booked into the Macomb County Jail in Mt. Clemens, Mich. where he is now awaiting extradition to Sevier County.

All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.