Claiborne County Man Found Guilty of Carjacking, Kidnapping, and Zip-tying a Victim

From WRIL The Big One -

Robert Lee Harris - CCJ

On Thursday, September 25, 2025, after a two day jury trial, a Claiborne County Jury found 66-year-old Robert Lee Harris, of New Tazewell, guilty of aggravated assault, carjacking, and especially aggravated kidnapping.

As we previously reported - Wednesday, January 25, 2023, a carjacking incident took place in New Tazewell.  Claiborne County Detective Rocky White, determined through victim statements that Harris displayed a firearm claiming he would kill the victim, putting the man in fear for his life. It was also determined that Harris fired the gun into the ground close to the man.

Harris was also accused of forcing the victim's hand to be restrained at gunpoint with the use of zip ties and took pictures of the man. The victim stated that Harris cut him loose leading him at gunpoint to a utility pole where he was once again restrained with zip ties.  He was then forced to remove all his clothing, and Harris took more pictures of him with his cellphone.

Harris finally walked away, and the victim was able to break free from the restraints running to safety where he called 911 from a neighboring residence.  Robert Lee Harris was later arrested.

At the conclusion of the trial, District Criminal Court Judge Zachary R. Walden revoked Harris’s $1,000,000 bond and set a sentencing hearing in this matter on November 10, 2025.

This case was investigated by the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office, specifically former Lt. Rocky White (now Special Agent with the Tennessee Department of Homeland Security), Lt. Eric Fraley, and Detective Niki McGeorge.  At trial, the State was represented by Assistant District Attorneys General Courtney Rickert and Graham E. Wilson.