Early last week, the special prosecutor assigned to investigate whether or not State Representative Mae Beavers lived in the district she represented filed a report stating that there wasn't enough evidence to warrant criminal charges in the matter.

Beavers is a candidate for the 17th Senatorial seat formerly occupied by Senator Bob Rochelle. Rochelle dropped his bid for re-election earlier this summer. A write in campaign was formed for Sherry Fisher that led to her being listed on the November 5 ballot as the democrat candidate for the position.

This is the Senatorial district that includes Macon County.

In a statement released last Tuesday, Rep. Beavers stated, "I realize pro income (tax) forces are still at work against me, with their lies and personal attacks. But, as I said I am now happy to be exonerated and now will continue to run the race and focus on the issues important to the state."

At issue in the investigation were two Mt. Juliet residences associated with Beavers - an apartment complex at 4675 Old Lebanon Dirt Road and a house at 2020 Hunters Place. The apartment complex is the residence that Beavers claimed as her legal residence. This residence lies within the House district she currently represents.

The Hunters Place house was built by Beavers and her husband and is located in House District 56.

A background investigation done earlier this year by the Senate Democratic Caucus turned up information indicating a possible criminal falsification of her address. This group notified the Wilson County prosecutors who turned the case over to a District Attorney General from outside the area to avoid any potential conflict of interest.

Jerry N. Estes, District Attorney General from the East Tennessee counties of Bradley, McMinn, Monroe, and Polk, investigated the matter, along with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

As part of their investigation, the agents and the prosecutors prepared a timeline dating to 1994 that outlined the addresses that Beavers listed on voter registration forms, candidate nominating petitions, a construction mortgage, a boat loan, telephone listings and utility bills.

It also details when neighbors said they saw Beavers living in various apartments at the complex on Old Dirt Road and when other neighbors saw the "for sale" signs at Hunters Place house.

In a letter written on October 18, Estes informed TBI Director Larry Wallace that a key consideration under the law was whether Beavers intended to return to the apartment. In that regard, Estes wrote, "the weight of the evidence supports the conclusion that Beavers intended to return to Old Lebanon Road".

Estes further wrote, "I do not find that there is a reasonable probability of conviction of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt."