Emonnie Branch, 51, of Portland, Tennessee, stood before Judge Joseph B. Hines in Warren County Circuit Court on Oct. 27, 2026. During the brief proceeding, Branch was provided with a copy of his formal indictment and confirmed a plea of not guilty.
Branch also requested court-appointed representation, asking the judge to assign a public defender to his case.
Trooper Phillips was killed in the line of duty, a tragic loss that has deeply shaken the Kentucky law enforcement community and the surrounding region. Court proceedings for Branch are expected to resume once legal counsel is officially assigned to represent him.
