Dedicated Bedford County Child Sex Abuse Attorney
What a Bedford County Child Sex Abuse Charge Means Right Now
Someone said something happened to a child, and now your name is attached to it. You are wondering if this follows you for the rest of your life, and whether your marriage, job, and reputation can survive it.
Those questions deserve real answers, not guesses. I’m Garth Segroves, a Bedford County child sex abuse defense lawyer, and I handle roughly 200 cases a year in Middle Tennessee courts. I work on every file myself. There are no paralegals reading your file before I do and no case hand-offs.
Tell me about the child sex abuse charges you are facing, and we will figure out the next step together before you say anything else to police or prosecutors.
| Licensed in Tennessee Since 2004 | Segroves Law Established 2009 | No Paralegals, No Interns, No Strangers | Free Consultations |
What a Rape of a Child Charge Carries in Tennessee
Tennessee treats rape of a child as one of the most serious crimes on the books. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-522, this charge applies when the child is between 8 and 13 years old, and it is a Class A felony. If an adult is convicted, there are three possible sentences:
- Death
- Life in prison without parole
- Life in prison
If the child is younger than 8 years old, the charge is aggravated rape of a child under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-531, and a conviction carries only two possible sentences: death or life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Related charges, like aggravated rape of a child, statutory rape, and sexual contact with a minor, carry their own long prison terms and their own consequences, including sex offender registration.
Prosecutors and jurors in Bedford County often assume guilt the moment a charge like this gets filed. That assumption is not proof. It is where your defense starts, one fact at a time. A real defense means checking the timeline, testing the forensic interview for inconsistencies, and finding out who else had access before the case ever reaches a courtroom. I ask those questions early, while evidence and memories are still fresh enough to matter.
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How Your Case Moves Through the Bedford County Courthouse
Cases like this usually start in Bedford County General Sessions Court. From there, the state can move the matter to Circuit Court if a grand jury indicts. The Bedford County Circuit Court Clerk’s office, at 108 North Creek Drive in Shelbyville, keeps the record on every filing, hearing date, and order tied to your case. Knowing how that courthouse actually runs, not just what the law says on paper, is part of building a strong defense.
Talk to a Bedford County Defense Attorney Before You Say Anything Else
Every day you wait is a day the state builds its case without hearing your side of the story. Contact Segroves Law today for a confidential consultation, and let’s talk honestly about what you are facing and what comes next. I do not take every case that comes through my door, but I will listen to yours.
