Man in Custody after Bringing Knives to Sevier County Court Appearance

A Sevierville man appearing in Sevier County court on an aggravated domestic assault charge was taken into custody after security officers found him carrying knives.

According to Sevier County Sheriff Ron Seals, 24-year-old Joseph Brennan showed up in Sevier County General Sessions Court for a court appearance carrying a backpack. Court security officers escorted him out of the courtroom and obtained permission to search the backpack where they found several knives, including a Ka-Bar type hunting knife and a butterfly knife. Officers also found that he had a knife inside his boot.

With the exception of law enforcement officers, no firearms or other weapons are allowed in the courtroom.

Officers confiscated the backpack and allowed Brennan back in the court where his Aggravated Domestic Assault case was bound to the Grand Jury and he was then remanded into jail on a Violation of Probation charge where he is being held.

The incident is under investigation and more charges may be pending.