Nashville Rape of a Child Attorney

Children are among the most protected classes of people and, as a result, any crime involving a child unsurprisingly leads to more severe criminal penalties. Concurrently, rape is deemed to be one of the highest offenses a person can commit, and when the rape involves a child, the person facing the accusation should begin to prepare for a long and arduous legal battle.

Rape accusations have negative connotations, especially when it is the rape of a child. The stigma associated with these kinds of allegations can make it difficult to find sympathy from jurors and prosecutors alike. Because of this, any person accused of raping a child must find experienced legal representation defend their rights and reputation. Contact the Nashville rape of a child attorneys of Horst Law at to speak with a qualified criminal defense attorney today.

Penalties for Rape a Child

In the state of Tennessee, children under the age of 17 are unable to legally give consent for many sexual acts. Children under 12 are completely incapable of giving legal consent and any sexual penetration with a child under this age is classified as rape of a child. Rape of a child can be split into two categories: rape of a child and aggravated rape of a child. Aggravated rape of a child occurs when the child is three years of age or under, while rape of a child involves children between 4-12. Both forms of rape of a child are deemed a Class A felony, and are subject to some of the highest criminal penalties that can be levied. Despite both cases being Class A felonies, aggravated rape of a child falls within Range III and carries a much higher minimum sentence than that of the Range II rape of a child charge. Some of the possible criminal penalties associated with rape of a child include:

• Rape of a Child – Class A Felony: 25-60 years in prison and fines up to $50,000
• Aggravated Rape of a Child – Class A Felony: 40-60 years in prison and fines up to $50,000
• Community supervision for life
• Placement into sex offender registry for life

Typical Class A felonies have a minimum sentence of only 15 years. However, because of the involvement of a child, these charges mandate a higher minimum sentence.

Contact a Nashville Rape of a Child Attorney

If you or someone you know has been charged with rape of a child, it is imperative that you find legal representation immediately so that you can start preparing your defense. Rape of a child, aggravated or not, is never easy to defend against, making finding a qualified sexual offense attorney more important than ever. At Horst Law, our rape attorneys have the experience necessary to be fully prepared to handle any rape of a child case. Contact our office at to speak with a member of our legal team today.