A federal judge chided a prominent New York City jazz club owner, who claimed he was the victim of fraud at the hands of his brother-in law and former Chattanooga auto dealership mogul Joseph Prebul, for not keeping better track of his money.

NEW YORK, New York — Former auto dealer Joe Prebul pleaded guilty here today to one count of misdemeanor larceny from a bank.

Former Chattanooga car dealer Joseph Prebul is in a New York courtroom this morning to stand trial for 11 counts of wire fraud and one count of mail fraud.

To an outsider, it might have looked like the typical family feud over money.

Several UTC students declined to comment Friday after watching their friend, a fellow sorority member accused of committing violent hazing acts last spring, enter no plea in Hamilton County Criminal Court.

A UTC student entered no plea during her arraignment this morning on charges that she participated in violent hazing rituals last spring.

Though a Chattanooga man will spend almost 25 years in federal prison for running one of the largest consumer fraud cases in Tennessee’s history, many of those conned still believe in his ability to return their money.

Former trader Luis Rivas was sentenced to 293 months — around 24 years — for bilking investors out of around $33 million.

Prosecutors have agreed to explain more fully their allegations against a young woman accused of aggravated neglect of her 18-month-old daughter, who died in 2006 as the result of blunt force trauma.

A Hamilton County Criminal Court judge recused himself Monday in a case in which a defense attorney has accused a state agency and at least two general sessions judges of “judge shopping.”

A jury of Hamilton County residents should be picked by Wednesday for the death penalty murder trial of a man accused of helping carry out the gruesome killings of two University of Tennessee students in Knoxville.

A Hamilton County Criminal Judge recused himself this morning in a case that centers on allegations of "judge shopping."

A Hamilton County Criminal Court judge is expected to decide today whether a boating-under-the-influence case will be dismissed based on allegations of "judge shopping."

Two teen Mowbray Mountain volunteer firefighters appeared in court Friday to answer to charges that they conspired to set a vacant house on fire, then waited for a call from the fire department.

Two teen Mowbray Mountain volunteer firefighters appeared in court this morning to answer to charges that they conspired to set a vacant house on fire, then waited for a call from the fire department.

Those adamantly opposed to Chattanooga's plans for annexing land across Hamilton County said they are receiving more support from people who understand how the annexation process might not be in their best interests.

The diary entry indicated that a distraught ex-wife wanted to kill her former spouse because she believed he was "demonic-filled."

Longtime Hamilton County school board member Janice Boydston has indicated she is happy to do the community service ordered by a local Criminal Court, but she still maintains her innocence in an alleged shoplifting incident.

A former Southern Adventist University student accused of rape now is free of all charges after prosecutors decided to drop the case they admitted would have been difficult to win at trial.

Hamilton County Board of Education member Janice Boydston must do 57 hours of community service with either the Chattanooga Food Bank or the Chattanooga Community Kitchen in connection with her arrest in the summer of 2008 on shoplifting charges, a judge ruled this morning.

Prosecutors have dropped all charges against a former Southern Adventist University student who was indicted on one count of felony rape in connection with an incident reported in 2004.

As his trial date nears, former Chattanooga auto dealership mogul Joseph Prebul has abandoned all negotiations with the government regarding the multiple fraud charges he faces.

In the middle of a contentious divorce, Red Bank Vice Mayor Monty Millard said he only wanted to correct the "bad example" his wife set for their children when she parked in the "to go" space of a local restaurant and proceeded to eat dinner inside.

Felony burglary charges were dropped today against Red Bank's vice mayor.

U.S. prosecutors in New York have indicated to a judge that Joseph Prebul has declined all their offers of a plea deal, signaling a firm indication that the former Chattanooga auto mogul is ready to stand trial on charges that he swindled his brother-in-law out of millions of dollars to help keep his businesses afloat.

A federal judge in Chattanooga on Wednesday rejected a plea for a lighter sentence from a young man accused of a crack cocaine crime, despite proposed legislation to do away with old sentencing rules that treat crimes involving crack much more harshly than those involving powder cocaine.

A federal judge on Monday sentenced a 23-year-old to four years and three months in prison for taking nude photos of his sexual encounters with a 15-year-old.

A 23-year-old was sentenced this morning to four years and three months in a federal prison for taking nude photos during his sexual encounters with a 14-year-old that he says were the result of a consensual relationship.

Although people in the Volunteer State have filed for bankruptcy in record numbers in recent years, Tennessee is first among states for the number of residents who try to make good on their debts with court-approved payment plans.

The defense attorney for a man charged with two counts of child rape said DNA evidence influenced his decision to plead guilty Thursday before the end of his trial.

A man pleaded guilty today to two counts of child rape before the jury in his trial got the chance to deliberate.

A confident 9-year-old boy did not hesitate when asked in court Wednesday what a longtime family friend did to him one night when his mother was away.

A 9-year-old boy testified today during a child-rape case in which he is the alleged victim.

A high school student who claimed she had a consensual sexual relationship with former Baylor football coach Willie Idlette while he worked at the school was reluctant to tell authorities about the affair, prosecutors said.

A Hamilton County man will stand trial today in connection with the alleged rape of a 7-year-old boy.

Former Baylor football coach Willie Idlette pleaded guilty this morning to two counts of statutory rape.

Prosecutors are considering appealing a judge's ruling that a Hamilton County school board member is eligible for judicial diversion in the shoplifting case against her.

A hearing in November will determine whether trial testimony can be used against a mother who is accused of aggravated child neglect in connection with the death of her daughter.

A former Erlanger hospital police officer was sentenced today to 10 years in prison after being caught accessing child pornography while at work.

A Criminal Court judge ruled this morning that Hamilton County Board of Education member Janice Boydston is eligible for judicial diversion in the shoplifting case against her.

The six attorneys vying to fill the upcoming judicial vacancy on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Chattanooga must have a keen sense of human nature and be ready to work hard, one veteran bankruptcy attorney said.

A pretrial conference today in the criminal case against former Chattanooga area auto dealer Joseph Prebul could influence his trial in November, but his defense attorney said there are no plans for striking a deal with the prosecution.

The U.S. attorney's office for the Eastern District of Tennessee collected more than $12.9 million in the last fiscal year, largely as a result of its daily crackdown on regional drug trafficking and other serious federal crimes.

Perhaps more than any other fashion statement for fall, a great pair of shoes will get you noticed.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that anonymous tips that alert authorities to reckless driving are sufficient to warrant detention and questioning of drivers.

As prosecutors scurry to complete plea agreements and set hearing dates for the last of the hundreds of criminal cases heard during the week, Judge Bob Moon complains that his staff is exhausted and already 10 minutes past the court’s normal noon closing time.

Piles of arrest warrants lie on the assistant district attorneys’ table at 8:30 a.m. in General Sessions Court. Defendants, witnesses and friends in the foreground of the courtroom cram themselves into the churchlike pews. People in the large hallway outside are just trying to figure out where to go.

Before 1993, criminal cases in Hamilton County were heard in both Chattanooga City Court and the county's General Sessions Court.

The civil lawsuit in which former car dealership mogul Joseph Prebul accuses his brother-in-law of extortion will remain in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the time being.

A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge this morning denied a motion by former Chattanooga car dealership owner Joseph Prebul to remand a case back to state court that involves an ongoing dispute with his brother-in-law.