Tennessee Bus Driver Facing Multiple Sex Crime Charges

 Posted on November 22, 2024 in Criminal Defense

A former Tennessee school bus driver from Jefferson County Schools has been charged with 14 counts of sexual contact by an authority figure. The 56-year-old man was arrested on November 13 after a complaint was lodged, and the Department of Children’s Services investigated. The investigation found camera footage from the buses, resulting in the driver’s employment being terminated.

After a $100,000 bond was set, the defendant posted the bond and is now out of jail. The driver worked for the Jefferson County Schools as a bus driver for almost ten years. Charges of any type of sex crime are extremely serious. If you are facing sex crime charges, it is extremely important that you speak to a knowledgeable Anderson County, TN sex crimes attorney from Jeffrey Coller, Knoxville Criminal Defense Attorney.

What is Sexual Contact by an Authority Figure?

Under Tennessee Criminal Code Section 39-13-509, sexual contact by an authority figure is charged when a defendant engages in unlawful sexual contact with a minor under the age of 18. The defendant must be at least four years older than the defendant, and the defendant must have been in a position of trust or had disciplinary or supervisory power over the minor due to occupational status. That position of trust or power must have been used to accomplish sexual contact. Sexual contact means that the person in a position of trust or power over the minor intentionally touched or kissed the minor’s lips for the purpose of sexual gratification or arousal.

What Are the Penalties for Sexual Contact by an Authority Figure?

Sexual contact by an authority figure is charged as a Class A misdemeanor in the state of Tennessee. While there is no jail or prison time as a penalty for the offense, there is a mandatory minimum fine of $1,000. Each separate instance of sexual contact by an authority figure is considered a separate offense. This means that the fines could be high if a person is charged and convicted of this criminal offense.

A person convicted of sexual contact by an authority figure could also be required to attend classes or treatment, although mandatory sex offender registry is not usually a result of a conviction for this criminal offense. In any case, all sex crimes bring a certain social stigma with them, so being found not guilty is extremely important, even though the individual will not likely go to jail or prison. At the very least, securing employment with a conviction for this criminal offense can be very difficult.

What Are Potential Defenses for Sexual Contact by an Authority Figure?

Of course, the best defense in any type of sex crime case is that the defendant was elsewhere and, therefore, was not able to commit the crime he or she is charged with. Witnesses or an alibi showing the defendant was somewhere else at the time the alleged offense occurred can make the prosecutor’s case too weak to move forward. Misidentification, especially when the alleged victim is a minor, is a strong defense as well.

Eyewitness testimony and police lineups are considerably less reliable than law enforcement, juries, and the general public believe them to be. In a situation like the one above, where there is a video of the alleged criminal offense, the best defense could be to show that the police made an error when arresting you or collecting evidence or that your Constitutional rights were violated during your arrest and interrogation.  

Contact a Blount County, TN Sex Crimes Attorney

If you are facing charges of a sex crime, speak to an experienced Knox County, TN, sex crimes attorney from Jeffrey Coller, Knoxville Criminal Defense Attorney as quickly as possible. The sooner our knowledgeable attorneys are on your case, the better your outcome is likely to be. Attorney Jeffrey Coller knows what is at stake and is prepared to provide the aggressive legal representation you need and deserve.  Contact Jeffrey Coller, Knoxville Criminal Defense Attorney at 865-281-1000 today to schedule your free consultation.