Neighbors talk about Blount County standoff suspect

Back to Neighborhood Blount County
Updated: 11:42 AM Aug 5, 2009 Neighbors talk about Blount County standoff suspect The Maryville man who allegedly held Blount County Sheriff's Deputies at bay for nearly an hour on Monday afternoon now faces some very serious charges. Posted: 2:10 AM Aug 5, 2009 Reporter: Stephen McLamb Email Address: stephen.mclamb@wvlt-tv.com

Font Size:

BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) – The Maryville man who allegedly held Blount County Sheriff's Deputies at bay for nearly an hour on Monday afternoon now faces some very serious charges.

Charles Edward Binger, Jr., 48 was charged Tuesday evening with sexual exploitation of a minor and destruction of evidence. He had been charged with possession of drug paraphernalia earlier in the day.

The trouble started around 3:15 PM when the BCSO H.E.A.T. Unit tried to serve Binger with a search warrant. According to deputies, he ran back into his Argyle Way home and claimed to have a gun.

Several neighbors were home at the time in the upscale Maryville community.

"I went to get my kids off the play set and saw three police officers running around the side of the house with guns," said Steve Stamper, a neighbor.

Binger surrendered to deputies about 45 minutes later. After spending the night in the Blount County Detention Center, the H.E.A.T. Unit confirmed it had found child pornography on at least one of the four computers seized from his home. They also seized weapons, including one that was illegal as well as marijuana seeds and drug paraphernalia.

Deputies further believe Binger destroyed compact discs that may have contained more evidence.

"I don't like to see anybody get in deep trouble,” said Bill Peterson, another neighbor, “but that is deep trouble."

One neighbor told Volunteer TV News that it just shows how the Internet can be scary.

"it comes to a point that you say ‘ok, how much in my home is safe,’" said Madeline Bishop.

Other neighbors say Binger often kept to himself.

"It's a unique situation and I am concerned about it even today," said Chris Kawa. “it's a scary situation but not all that surprising."

His neighbor faces some very serious charges, but what Bishop is most worried about is Binger’s young daughter.

“The child is the one that's going to suffer the most because of dealing with what's going on with her parents,” he said.

Binger was still being held in the Blount County Detention Center early Wednesday morning on a $131,000 bond. He has a hearing date before a sessions judge on August 14th at 9:00 a.m.

Sheriff's officials say more charges could be forthcoming.

Click here to post a comment.