Tennessee Criminal Lawyer Blog

Tennessee sex crime lawyers help individuals accused of various sex crimes in the East Tennessee area. Many times, allegations that you have committed a sex crime will turn your life into chaos. You could lose your job, family, and even freedom. Don’t let false allegations destroy your life. If you have been accused of committing a sex crime, contact a Tennessee sex offense attorney. Our sex crime lawyers help clients in Knoxville, Sevierville, Newport, Maryville, Johnson City, Bristol, Chattanooga, Morristown, and Loudon.

Aggravated sexual battery is one of the more serious sex crimes. There are four ways to commit aggravated sexual battery under Tennessee law. According to Tennessee law, aggravated sexual battery is unlawful sexual contact with a victim by the defendant or the defendant by a victim accompanied by any of the following circumstances:

• Force or coercion is used to accomplish the act and the defendant is armed with a weapon or any article used or fashioned in a manner to lead the victim reasonably to believe it to be a weapon;
• The defendant causes bodily injury to the victim;
• The defendant is aided or abetted by one (1) or more other persons; and
(A) Force or coercion is used to accomplish the act; or
(B) The defendant knows or has reason to know that the victim is mentally defective, mentally incapacitated or physically helpless; or
• The victim is less than thirteen (13) years of age. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-504 (2007).

The consequences for a conviction of aggravated sexual battery are severe. Aggravated sexual battery is a Class B felony under Tennessee law. Class B felonies are punishable between eight and thirty years incarceration. In addition, the jury may assess a fine up to twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-111 (2007). Besides large fines and long periods of confinement, you are subject to Tennessee’s sexual offender registry if you are convicted of aggravated sexual battery. If you are charged with aggravated sexual battery, or any other sex crime under Tennessee law, contact a sex crime attorney today for a free consultation.