From Local 3 News: An Athens man has received one of the longest criminal sentences in Tennessee history in a child sex abuse case.
Kenterrius McGuffie is slated to serve 10 consecutive life sentences without parole, plus an additional 16 years in prison, according to a statement from the 10th Judicial District Attorney's Office.
DA General Stephen Hatchett announced the 29-year-old's sentencing by District Judge Sandra Donaghy on Wednesday, January 7.
McGuffie pleaded guilty to a total of 27 charges:
The case involved "horrific" sexual abuse committed and filmed by the defendant, Gen. Hatchett stated. He said he wants the case to serve as a warning to anyone wanting to harm children in the community:
"There are few crimes, if any, that destroy lives like sexual abuse of children. Innocence is killed in these children, and had this crime occurred after the law changed, I would have sought the death penalty."
Law enforcement arrested McGuffie in 2024 after agents received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children concerning child sexual abuse material being uploaded by a Snapchat user.
The charges and subsequent sentencing are based on videos collected on his electronic devices and Snapchat.
The DA's office thanked the following agencies for their support:
Kenterrius McGuffie is slated to serve 10 consecutive life sentences without parole, plus an additional 16 years in prison, according to a statement from the 10th Judicial District Attorney's Office.
DA General Stephen Hatchett announced the 29-year-old's sentencing by District Judge Sandra Donaghy on Wednesday, January 7.
McGuffie pleaded guilty to a total of 27 charges:
- 13 counts of aggravated child rape
- 12 counts of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor
- One count of continual sexual abuse of a child
- One count of sexual exploitation of a minor
The case involved "horrific" sexual abuse committed and filmed by the defendant, Gen. Hatchett stated. He said he wants the case to serve as a warning to anyone wanting to harm children in the community:
"There are few crimes, if any, that destroy lives like sexual abuse of children. Innocence is killed in these children, and had this crime occurred after the law changed, I would have sought the death penalty."
Law enforcement arrested McGuffie in 2024 after agents received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children concerning child sexual abuse material being uploaded by a Snapchat user.
The charges and subsequent sentencing are based on videos collected on his electronic devices and Snapchat.
The DA's office thanked the following agencies for their support:
- Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
- 10th Judicial District Drug Task Force
- Athens Police Department
- McMinn County Sheriff's Office
- Metro Nashville Police Department
- 10th Judicial Children's Advocacy Center.
Posted in Local News
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