Murfreesboro Sheriff says he won’t resign

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) – Rutherford County Sheriff Robert Arnold says he won’t leave office despite facing federal corruption charges.

The Daily News Journal reports Arnold sent a text message Saturday to one of the newspaper’s reporters that said he had no intention of resigning.

The text came a day after Arnold was brought into a federal courtroom in handcuffs. The sheriff, his chief deputy over administration and the sheriff’s uncle have been named in a 14-count federal indictment. Arnold is accused of benefiting from a scheme to profit from the sale of electronic cigarettes in the jail he oversees.

The men face multiple charges, including: fraud, bribery and obstruction of justice.

The sheriff has defended himself throughout the investigation. Court documents don’t list lawyers for the other two men.