Career Offender Convicted of Stealing a Truck

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit obtained a conviction against a defendant with nine prior felony convictions who stole a pickup truck. Tommy Lee Houser, Jr., 46, was convicted of Theft over $1000. After the jury returned their verdict, Judge Steve Sword set the case for sentencing on August 26.

At trial, Assistant District Attorney Phil Morton explained to the jury that on January 20, 2015, Knoxville Police Department Officer Michael Cooper responded to a 911 call from a business at 2726 Central Street. Once on scene, Ofc. Cooper learned that the 911 caller had watched a pickup truck crash through a gate at the business and drive south on Central. The pickup truck was later recovered in Houser’s possession when KPD Ofc. Brian Mason responded to a disturbance of a male driving a stolen truck on Rudy Street near Heiskell Avenue.

Theft over $1000 is a Class D felony. Because Houser has nine prior felony convictions, he is facing a sentence of twelve years to serve. Houser’s prior felony cases include Burglary, Cocaine, DUI, and Theft convictions.

If you have any questions, please contact Sean McDermott at 865-215-2515 or Sean.McDermott@knoxcounty.org. For more information about the District Attorney’s Office, visit our website at dag.knoxcountytn.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.