The Newport Plain Talk

NEWPORT-The woman who is accused of firing a 9mm handgun inside Hilltop Baptist Church in March was named Monday on a five-count presentment issued by the Cocke County Grand Jury.

Janet Lee Compton, 52, of 152 Circle Road, is charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment involving a deadly weapon, and evading arrest.

The presentment against Compton was opened by Circuit Judge Ben W. Hooper II when the grand jury reported Tuesday afternoon. Grand jurors heard 108 cases during the two-day session, which also resulted in a grand jury report calling for improved law enforcement procedures and equipment.

Newport police were notified of a shooting incident at Hilltop Baptist Church at 7:09 p.m. on March 5. When the 9mm Ruger pistol was fired inside the church, the bullet hit the floor, a table, and then lodged into the pulpit at the front of the church.

The pistol's clip, reportedly containing six live rounds, was found near the gun, which still had one bullet chambered and was ready to fire.

The victims of the two alleged attempted first-degree murder counts are listed in the grand jury's report as Michael Compton, of 1435 Mountain Ranch Road, the defendant's husband (the couple were reportedly in the process of divorce when the shooting occurred) and Cline Franklin, of 122 Brookfield Drive, who witnesses said was approaching the woman inside the church when the shot was fired.

After Compton pulled the telephone wire out of the church's wall, Michael Compton reportedly ran outside the church and his wife followed.

At that point, Janet Compton got into a 2004 Saturn VUE and headed west on Knoxville Highway. The car overturned in the Carson Springs community during a chase involving both police and sheriff's deputies.

She was injured in the crash and spent several days in University of Tennessee Hospital in Knoxville before being taken into custody and held without bond. During a hearing about a month ago, Judge Hooper ordered the woman to undergo a psychological evaluation to determine whether she is a threat to herself or others before considering releasing her on bond.

That issue might be considered when Compton is arraigned on Monday, May 12, in Cocke County Circuit Court.

The grand jury issued a report on Tuesday regarding two issues which came before the panel this week.

The first concerns "cases that required a no true bill due to missing evidence.

"We are convinced of the urgent need to improve the collection and safeguarding evidence that will be vital to the conduct of future trials and we urge our county officials with jurisdiction in this area to take whatever steps are necessary to accomplish this goal, including directing local law enforcement officers to cooperate fully and respond promptly to inquiries from the district attorney's office in regard to the availability of evidence."

Grand jurors returned nine no true bills clearing defendants of pending charges against them on Tuesday.

"Second, we are convinced of the importance of mobile video taping in prosecuting crimes, exonerating officers of false complaints, and monitoring law enforcement behavior," the panel's report continues.

"While recognizing existing budget restraints, we recommend that high priority be placed on the purchase of video taping equipment for all patrol units," the grand jury concluded.

Judge Hooper ordered that copies of the grand jury's report be forwarded to Newport police and Cocke County sheriff's departments, the county mayor's office, and to each county commissioner for consideration.

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