Image Credit: @Chattanooga_gov / X & Canva.
Article by The Tennessee Conservative News Staff –
After multiple delays, a trial date has been set for a former Chattanooga police chief accused of falsifying documents and providing false information regarding her residency.
Celeste Murphy stepped down from her position as Chattanooga police chief in 2024 after the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation began looking into allegations that she had submitted fake documents and had not been truthful about her primary residence.
TBI officials determined that Murphy had knowingly provided false information on residency documents. She was indicted on a total of 17 felony and misdemeanor charges:
- 1 count of illegal voter registration
- 1 count of false entries on official registration or election documents
- 3 counts of false entries in governmental records
- 3 counts of forgery
- 3 counts of perjury
- 6 counts of official misconduct
Murphy recently hired a new legal team from the Nashville-based firm Litson PLLC. Her new lawyers, both former federal prosecutors, have announced that she will no longer be asking that the trial be held outside of Hamilton County or that outside jurors be brought in.
Murphy had previously requested a change of venue, arguing that her former position as police chief and the publicity surrounding her accusations would make it difficult to find a jury that would be impartial within the county.
Murphy has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial will be held on January 19, 2027.
Sources:
TennesseeConservativeNews.com.
TennesseeConservativeNews.com.
TennesseeConservativeNews.com.
