Arson Suspect Indicted, Accused of Trying to Solicit Murder of Witness

By Josh DeVine, TBI

Special Agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation have obtained an indictment for an inmate of the Overton County Jail who stands accused of trying to solicit the murder of a witness in his pending criminal case.

On September 13^th, TBI Agents began investigating Calvin Booher (DOB 2-10-78). A year ago, authorities arrested Booher and charged him with Aggravated Arson in connection to several fires in the Livingston area.  Earlier this month, Agents developed information that, while incarcerated, Booher attempted to arrange for a witness in his arson case to be murdered.

On Monday, the Overton County Grand Jury returned an indictment, charging Booher with one count of Solicitation to Commit First Degree Murder. He was served with the additional charge last night at the Overton County Jail, where he remained in custody at the time of this release.

Booher at his initial appearance 

on arson charges 9-20-2016

Previous Jim Young Reporter story on arson charges against Booher from 2016.

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Livingston Arson suspect held on $750,000 bond. A long night for law enforcement and district attorney.

UPDATE: One of the houses involved was a house occupied by former 13th district Circuit court judge John Tunbull and his daughter Amy Hollars, a 13th judicial district circuit court judge.  This would appear to explain the interest in the matter and the involvement of multiple agencies and the District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway who appeared in Livingston court this morning.  

 General Dunaway said two residences were a total loss and one room in Turnbull's house was heavily damaged by incendiary devices thrown through a window.  In addition, according to Dunaway Booher allegedly stole a truck and and burned his own vehicle. 

Currently Booher faces one count of aggravated arson but General Dunaway said there would be definitely more charges to come.  The instigation is still ongoing.  Dunaway added that Booher may not have meant to target the Judges home but a family members instead.  

A Livingston man was in Overton Co. general session court this morning for an initial appearance following his arrest early this morning on Arson charges.

The case of Calvin Booher has been continued to October 20 and an initial bond of $250,000 was raised to $750,000.

Calvin Booher, wearing the yellow jumpsuit made an initial appearance on arson charges 

in Overton Co. General Session Court this morning. 

Three house fires are under investigation and sources say one of the homes belonged to a former judge and two of the three houses involved were occupied at the time of the fires.  The investigation is on going.

Suspect Calvin Booher's Facebook page.