Tennessee Criminal Lawyer Blog

Tennessee Sex Crime Lawyers have helped many people charged with sex-related crimes throughout the East Tennessee area. If you have been charged with a sex crime in Tennessee, or believe that you may be charged with a sex crime in the near future, contact a Tennessee Sex Crime Attorney today. It is important you understand your rights and the potential penalties you face.

Any form of rape is a serious sex crime. In Tennessee, there are different types of statutory rape. Statutory Rape by an authority figure is an extremely serious sex offense, and is considered to be a violent sex offense under the law. This means that if you are convicted of this offense, you will have to register as a sex offender for life in Tennessee. Statutory rape by an authority figure is a Class C felony. Class C felonies are punished between 3 and 15 years incarcerated and/or up to a $10,000 fine. Additionally, no person who is found guilty of or pleads guilty to statutory rape by an authority figure is eligible for probation.

According to T.C.A. § 39-13-532, Statutory rape by an authority figure is the unlawful sexual penetration of a victim by the defendant or of the defendant by the victim when:

• The victim is at least thirteen (13) but less than eighteen (18) years of age;

• The defendant is at least four (4) years older than the victim; and

• The defendant was, at the time of the offense, in a position of trust, or had supervisory or disciplinary power over the victim by virtue of the defendant's legal, professional, or occupational status and used the position of trust or power to accomplish the sexual penetration; or

The defendant had, at the time of the offense, parental or custodial authority over the victim and used the authority to accomplish the sexual penetration.

Sex offenses involving minors elicit much public outrage and condemnation. The accused is typically presented as leading a double life and as being unworthy of basic constitutional freedoms. Our attorneys know how to handle these types of cases. If you are confronted with the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence and a lifetime of monitoring and registration, contact a sex crime defense lawyer who is willing to fight for you. Our lawyers work across East Tennessee in cities such as Sevierville, Knoxville, Greeneville, Johnson City, Nashville, Loudon, Maryville, Newport, Morristown, Alcoa, and Bristol.