Copyright 2006 

    In an action brought by the state of Tennessee, a jury today returned a guilty verdict against Alecia Cooper for charges of Attempted Assault and Disorderly Conduct.   The charges were part of an indictment against Cooper as a result of her confrontation with Becky Hord and Marvinda Blackwell at the 2005 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.  Hord is a Captain in the Bedford County Sheriff's office.

     After the trial, defense attorney Phillip Davidson refused comment saying "We can't talk about it because it may be on appeal."

   The jury also found Cooper not guilty of assault on Hord or assault or attempted assault on Blackwell.  The case was originally set for April 18 but was rescheduled for today.  The judge will issue his sentencing order later.

     After last year's Celebration, Ms. Cooper filed suit against Becky Hord and the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration asking for $500,000 in compensatory damages and $750,000 in punitive damages.  A date for that case has yet to be set.