Judge downgrades charge against Commissioner Tim Boyd

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – A judge says that there is not enough evidence for a jury to convict a Hamilton County Commissioner of extortion, but there is enough for attempted extortion.

Earlier, the alleged victim of the extortion testified that he did feel threatened by phone calls from his opponent, Tim Boyd.

But when the testimony was done, the judge decided the threat wasn’t severe enough to warrant an extortion charge.

So the jury began deliberating on the lesser charge Thursday afternoon.