BARTLETT, Tenn. — Attorneys representing a Bartlett police officer, Hunter Kissinger, who is accused of sexually assaulting a tattoo artist, appeared in court on Monday.
Kissinger, 31, was charged with sexual battery after a tattoo artist reported that he had been inappropriately touched while performing a tattoo on the officer. On Monday, Kissinger appeared in court with an injured eye, and his defense team, led by criminal defense attorneys Leslie Ballin and Erika Ruch, maintained that he is not guilty.
Attorney Leslie Ballin told the judge that he preferred not to discuss the defense’s side of the case in the media, emphasizing the importance of letting the case be tried in the courtroom instead. “I know there’s been a lot of comments on social media, but those people would not be appropriate jurors,” said Ballin.
Kissinger was released earlier this month on a $50,000 bond, and the case is set to continue on March 27.
