Former DA billed for no-show in court

A criminal defense attorney who did not show up for his client's trial this month has been ordered to pay a set of potential jurors who appeared in court for their service.

Lawyer Scott McCluen failed to appear before Loudon County Criminal Court Judge Eugene Eblen on Feb. 9, a Loudon County Circuit Court clerk said Friday.

McCluen was slated to show up for trial in the state's case against Angelo Paul Leone, a Tellico Village property owner charged with one count of assault, the clerk said.

Court documents show Eblen issued a jury expense bill to McCluen for $280. It hasn't been paid yet.

McCluen, a former district attorney general for counties including Loudon and Roane, has no history of reprimands, according to the state Board of Professional Responsibility.

He could not be reached for comment Friday.

Leone's trial has been reset to June 1. Assistant District Attorney General Frank Harvey is prosecuting.