Tennessee lawmakers, DA look to ensure death penalty as option for child rape

From News Channel 9: Some Tennessee lawmakers are aiming to put the death penalty on the table for those convicted of child rape, even after those behind a 2024 law intended that to be the case.

It comes after a Signal Mountain man was convicted on dozens of charges related to the sexual assault of a child.

According to court documents, Stephen Rapaport was indicted on 52 counts related to the assault, abuse, and exploitation of a minor.

He pleaded guilty to three counts, with a recommended sentence of life in prison.

Lawmakers say in cases of child sexual abuse, the death penalty should be an option.

A bill was passed in 2024 with the intention of making that an option.

But Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp says new legislation is needed so it can operate the way it was intended.

Lawmakers like Ken Yager, who backed this bill two years ago, made their intentions clear...
"The bill that we are submitting would allow them to give life imprisonment, life in prison without parole, or the death penalty."

So those like Stephen Rapaport could be punished by death.

"What we're doing here, is we are giving our district attorneys general, our judges and our juries another option."

But DA Wamp says they did not have that option in Rapaport's case.

She says that's because a different law on the books says the aggravating factors for death in Tennessee only apply to murder.

"If someone rapes a child in this state, they should die."

Wamp says the 2024 legislature authorized death for raping children, but did not amend or add to the list of aggravating factors of the death penalty in general.

So Wamp, along with Greg Martin (a state representative from Hixson), and Todd Gardenhire (a state senator from Chattanooga) are backing a bill to clarify that punishment.

Wamp says that would create new aggravating factors specific to rape of a child.

We spoke with Rep. Martin about the legislation. He says...

"You're talking about taking the very soul of a child when you rape them."

Rep. Martin says Wamp came to him with the issue.

"She brought it to me and said, you know, there's a loophole in this, and we need to tighten this up... I filed this bill and have vetted it with several attorneys and and making sure that we're on the right path here."

According to his plea agreement, Rapaport is expected to be sentenced in early May.

Senator Jack Johnson was a sponsor of the original bill that passed in 2024. When we asked about the new legislation that was filed, he said,

"Let me be clear: the General Assembly passed SB 1834 so anyone who rapes a child can face the strongest penalties allowed by law—life in prison or the death penalty. We worked with prosecutors, including the District Attorneys General Conference, to ensure the law would be applied as intended. Those who rape a child should never be allowed back on the streets to victimize another child. If technical issues are now preventing courts from enforcing this law, that's unacceptable—and we should fix it. I fully support Senator Gardenhire's work with district attorneys to close any loopholes and make sure child rapists are held fully accountable."