ssharpJACKSBORO, TN. (WLAF)- Raymond Smith, a man facing 25 felony counts after Jacksboro Police investigated allegations he had been in a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl, will go to trial.
In court last week, attorneys on both sides of the case agreed that settling the case without a trial was not probable.
Smith was previously denied a bond reduction in the child rape case. He remains in jail on that $300,000 bond.
At the time of his arrest, Smith was 69- years- old. Following his arrest, he allegedly professed his love for the victim.
Ten of the charges Smith is facing carry mandatory minimum sentences of 25 years each, to be served at 100 percent, if convicted. The remaining charges are not eligible for probation, Lindsay Cadle of the district attorney’s office said at a prior hearing.
Smith was charged after the Jacksboro Police Department began an investigation into a child rape case. A father told Cody Chapman, Jacksboro assistant chief of police at that time, that his 13- year-old daughter had been in a relationship with the 69- year-old Smith
Smith allegedly allowed Chapman to search his phone. On the phone was a nude picture of the young girl, according to the arrest warrant.
In a subsequent interview, Smith allegedly confessed he “could have possibly” taken the photo of the girl. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 09/19/2022-6AM)