Tennessee man pleads guilty in adoption forgery scheme

His total bond amount was set at $325,000, however, Thibault is still being held without bond for violating his parole from Hamilton County.

In a Friday morning hearing in the Blount County General Sessions courtroom of Judge Michael A. Gallegos, Thibault ended up waiving both his rights to an attorney and a preliminary hearing.

While reading over an affidavit Thibault had previously filled out to determine if he was indigent and qualified for a public defender, Gallegos questioned Thibault concerning a claim he made in the affidavit that his income was about $1,000 a month. Thibault responded that he did not understand the question at the time, and that he had no income and had not made any money since last year.

Thibault also denied owning any land or other property besides a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder with an estimated of $7,000. He said he also had about $400 in a checking account.

Blount County Assistant District Attorney Shari Tayloe then informed Gallegos that the state had a title deed identifying Thibault as the owner of a piece of property, which was then presented to the judge. When Gallegos questioned Thibault about the property, he admitted that it was property he owned, but that it was part of the state’s case against him.

Tayloe confirmed that the property in question is connected to charges in the state’s case against Thibault.

Thibault then announced that he wished to waive his right to an attorney as well as a preliminary hearing.

“I have no interest in having a preliminary hearing … I have no interest in having an attorney speak for me. I can do that,” he said.

Gallegos accepted the waiver and bound Thibault’s case over to be heard by a Blount County grand jury.

Property purchase

A public records check at the Blount County Register of Deeds revealed that Thibault had indeed purchased a property on Hatcher Creek Lane. According to the deed, which was notarized Jan. 9, Thibault would pay $10,000 for the property, which was valued by the property assessor at $26,500.

Because of the sensitivity of the case against Thibault, additional information regarding the case has not been released at this time, according to the Blount County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities are asking for the public’s help in identifying additional individuals that Thibault may have victimized.

Anyone to whom Thibault has presented himself as being a legal professional, or individuals who have paid Thibault money in return for legal services, are asked to call the Blount County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division during normal business hours at 865-273-5001.”