Appellate panel hears Hollingsworth’s challenge to 22-year delay, notice and sentence after probation revocation

At an appellate oral argument, Joshua Lade, an appellate public defender for Tommy Hollingsworth, told the court that the key problems in his client’s revocation are a 22-year delay tied to an unfiled detainer, lack of notice that absconsion would be relied on, and an excessive revocation sentence. “The cause of the delay in this case was the state's failure to file a detainer on Mister Hollingsworth's account in NCIC,” Lade said, arguing that a properly filed detainer would have flagged the matter when Mr. Hollingsworth faced later trouble in other jurisdictions.

Lade summarized the underlying facts: Hollingsworth was placed on probation on Oct. 19, 1998; a violation warrant issued in 2002 and, aside from that warrant, the record remained dormant until December 2024 when he was returned to Tennessee and his probation was revoked in March. Lade…