A former U.S. Senate candidate has entered an Alford plea to charges stemming from two unrelated incidents.Thomas Kenneth “T.K.” Owens has entered the plea on one count of solicitation of a minor to commit attempted sexual battery and one count of solicitation of first degree murder.The solicitation of a minor charge stems from his arrest in May 2011 after a 7-year-old girl’s mother told officials that Owens had invited her into his apartment to get a “twisty tie” ring he made.The girl told her mother Owens gave her the ring and asked for a hug. After she hugged him, she said he unzipped his pants and exposed himself to her and asked her if she wanted to perform an inappropriate act. The girl told Owens she had to go home to finish her chores. She then ran home. In August 2013, Owens was charged with solicitation to commit first-degree murder after he tried to hire someone to kill his uncle, who is a a part-time Carter County Sheriff’s deputy and full-time minister at Zion Faith Center in Johnson City.Last year, an informant came to the sheriff’s office with information that Owens was looking to pay someone to kill Ernie Widby. That led to a meeting in Johnson City where Owens connected with another individual — who was working undercover for the operation — and handed over $500 as a down payment for the $2,500 hit.Owens brought a picture of the intended victim of the murder plot as well as his home address to the meeting in the parking lot of Bailey’s Sports Bar. Owens was arrested after the payment was made.An Alford plea means Owens is not admitting to committing the criminal acts, but recognizes the prosecution’s evidence would likely persuade a judge or jury to find him guilty.According to the agreement made in Washington County Criminal Court on Monday, Owens will serve, consecutively, four years on the sexual battery charge and eight years on the solicitation of first degree murder. Owens will also be required to be on the sex offender registry for 10 years.Keep checking JohnsonCityPress.com for more details on Owens’ plea agreement.
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