Sheriffs of Scott County
Under Tennessee law, county sheriff is one of three constitutional offices elected by the voters of each county, along with county mayor and road superintendent. In Scott County, sheriff’s elections are held every four years, with the next scheduled for August 2026. Prior to 1978, sheriff’s terms were two years instead of four.
Scott County’s first sheriff, elected in 1850, was John Lewallen. He was 38 when he was elected high sheriff, and he served four two-year terms in that position.
Scott County’s current sheriff is Brian Keeton. He began his law enforcement career as an SRO at the Scott County Sheriff’s Office and later served as chief of police in Caryville, Tenn. before being elected Scott County Sheriff in August 2022.
The longest-tenured sheriff in Scott County’s history was Jim Carson, who served 12 years, from 1994 to 2006. The second-longest-tenured sheriff was Carson’s brother, Marion Carson, who served nearly 10 years from 1976 until he pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges in April 1986. His chief deputy, Chester Sexton, was appointed by Scott County Commission to finish his term.
The sheriff who served the most years was Frank Butler, who was elected on four separate occasions and served a total of 18 years. Jack Laxton was elected on two separate occasions and served a total of 14 years.
Several Scott County sheriffs have died in office. Richard Ellis was assassinated in 1925. His successor, Isham Chambers, died of influenza in 1929. Mike Cross died of cancer in 2013.
Through the years
John Llewellyn, 1850-1858
Bailey Buttram, 1858-1864
James Sharp, 1864-1870
W. Terry, 1870-1872
Milton Terry, 1872-1874
Fowler Hatfield, 1874-1876
Reuben Hurtt, 1876-1882
Beaty Cecil, 1882-1886
Frank Hughett, 1888-1894
John Goad, 1894-1896
Frank Hughett, 1898-1900
Thomas Jeffers, 1900-1902
Sam Sexton, 1902-1904
William J. West, 1904-1908
Andy Thomas, 1908-1910
Gilbert Sexton, 1910-1916
Mitchell Phillips, 1916-1920
Richard Ellis, 1920-1925
Isham Chambers, 1926-1929
Esau Laxton, 1929-1934
Herbert Bilbrey, 1934-1936
Esau Laxton, 1936-1938
Frank Butler, 1938-1944
Dorsey Rosser, 1944-1946
Frank Butler, 1946-1948
Dorsey Rosser, 1948-1950
Frank Butler, 1950-1956
Dorsey Rosser, 1956-1962
Jack Laxton, 1962-1968
Bernard Brummet, 1968-1972
Julius Lewallen, 1972-1976
Marion Carson, 1976 – 1986
Chester Sexton, 1986
Jack Laxton, 1986-1994
Jim Carson, 1994-2006
Anthony Lay, 2006-2010
Mike Cross, 2010-2013
Ronnie Phillips, 2013-2022
Brian Keeton, 2022-Present