Controversy arose in the week following the alleged accidental shooting of 11-year-old Timea Batts by her father, Timothy Batts.
After Batts' arrest, friends, family, and community members rallied around the Hendersonville man, claiming he was a great father and that the shooting Monday was an accident.
Members of the community worked together to raise money to pay for Batts' bond, which was achieved on Friday.
Family members and friends said they wanted Batts released from jail so he could go to his daughter's funeral.
Sources tell News Channel 5 that 19 people worked together to raise $50,000, ten percent of the required bond, that led to Batts' release on Friday.
Controversy erupted after Batts was seen on a Facebook video, appearing to celebrate his release from jail, with family and friends.
That controversy continued on Saturday night when a flier was circulated for a fundraiser at Limelight in Nashville on Thursday that had the words "Cashville Greatest Dad Appreciation."
Many thought the flier was inappropriate while others said the family had no part in creating the flier.
Management at Limelight told NewsChannel 5 that a member of the family reached out about holding a fundraiser/party at Limelight on Thursday, but they never signed a contract or came to terms. After Batts was released on bond, the family said the fundraiser was no longer necessary.
It was unclear if the flier was created by the family, or if they had knowledge of the flier.
On Monday, Batts' attorney, John Pellegrin, spoke to News Channel 5 about Batts' situation.
"He was very emotional, he'd break down and cry," Pellegrin said of Batts while he was in custody.
When it comes to the controversy online, Pellegrin said he wishes the videos and flier were never posted.
"There are a lot of well-meaning people that worked hard and raised a lot of money to try to get him out, to try to make this very, very high bond. So, I think some of those people were certainly exuberant apparently when he was released," Pellegrin explained, adding, "I don't want any client to - for their case to be tried on Facebook, so, you know, prefer that my clients and people close to my clients not do that."
Batts has been charged with reckless homicide, tampering with evidence, false reporting, and possessing a firearm as a felon.
