Thursday, a General Sessions Judge dismissed assault charges against a Crossville City Council Member that were filed by a fellow- City Council member. Pete Souza pressed charges against Jesse Kerley for an incident which took place on June 2^nd, 2016. State Prosecutors called two witnesses to testify, Souza himself and Howard Burnette. Both gave testimony that, on the day in question, Souza was accosted by Kerley while exiting City Hall after a council work session. The prosecution then introduced a recording of the incident from an indoor video surveillance system. Kerley’s attorney Kevin Bryant, then made a motion to dismiss the case, stating that although the video revealed the incident, it did not prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Kerley threw the first blow. In his statement, Judge Larry Warner said that the case fell between showing the burden of proof and proof beyond a shadow of doubt. The judge stated that a case had to provide proof of action beyond a reasonable doubt and that the proof in this case failed to do that. The case was then dismissed. Kerley told 1057 News that “he wished Pete Souza would find it in his heart to tell the truth.” Souza made no comment.