Asheville News

Moonshiner Popcorn Sutton dead of apparent suicide

Jason Sandford March 17, 2009

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

WATE.com has the sad story:

PARROTSVILLE (WATE) — Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton, who gained fame and notoriety as a moonshiner, died Monday in Cocke County, sheriff’s deputies said.

According to a Cocke County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, it appeared that Sutton, 61, took his own life in his Parrotsville home.

Sutton pleaded guilty in March 2008 to one count of felony possession of a firearm and one count of unlawful production of distilled spirits.

He was expected to begin serving soon an 18-month sentence in federal prison.

In a raid of three of Sutton’s properties, officers found three stills and more than 800 gallons of moonshine being stored in an old school bus.

A later investigation turned up nearly 800 more gallons of moonshine.

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

House blows up in Avery County

Pssst: Want Asheville Tourists tix? Here’s the pre-sale code

2 Comments

Chad Nesbitt March 17, 2009

I agree with b.c.w.

Reply
b.c.w. March 17, 2009

this is a travesty. if it weren’t for outdated laws regarding distillation and taxation, the poor guy might have been a bit happier. he wasn’t hurting anyone making some moonshine. should have just let him be.

Reply