Incest
"You can't help who you love" has been the title or subject of various songs and poems throughout the years. While it may be true, the State of Tennessee has decided that even if you can't help but love one of your relatives, you better not sleep with them or you could be looking at a felony charge.
Incest is defined in T.C.A. 39-15-302 as follows:
(a) A person commits incest who engages in sexual penetration as defined in ยง 39-13-501, with a person, knowing the person to be, without regard to legitimacy:(1) The person's natural parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, stepparent, stepchild, adoptive parent, adoptive child; or
(2) The person's brother or sister of the whole or half-blood or by adoption.
The good news for some individuals is that this statute does not apply to cousins. However, the most notable thing about it may be that it is a class C felony punishable by fifteen years in prison, which makes incest a more serious felony than recklessly killing another individual. Thus, the State of Tennessee has decided that it would be far better for an individual to recklessly kill their aunt or uncle rather than engage in sexual activity with them. This statute is, then, reminiscent of federal child pornography laws which punish an offender more harshly for downloading an image of a naked twelve year-old than it does if the individual actually uses the internet to contact the twelve year-old and actually sleep with them.
Unfortunately, many such inconsistencies and illogical consequences are present in the law today. Therefore, individuals charged with any crimes should contact an experienced East Tennessee criminal defense attorney to ensure that they are assisted by skilled legal counsel who can advise them correctly in every situation.
Bookmark: 
