Sex Offender Convicted of Twenty-Four Sexual Assaults

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Child Abuse Unit obtained twenty-four convictions today against Brian Derick Hickey, 53, for sexual assaults he committed against multiple children. Hickey must serve fifteen years in prison at one hundred percent after he pled guilty to thirteen counts of Aggravated Sexual Battery, two counts of Attempted Rape of a Child, three counts of Rape, one count of Attempted Rape, and five counts of Incest. Hickey will also be placed on the Sex Offender Registry and is subject to Community Supervision for Life.

In a plea hearing before Judge Scott Green, Assistant District Attorney Ashley McDermott outlined the State’s case against Hickey. On January 2, 2014, Knoxville Police Department Investigator Patty Tipton responded to a complaint of sexual assault by Hickey against a twelve-year-old child. During the course of the investigation, Inv. Tipton conducted interviews, collected DNA swabs, and later obtained a search warrant to collect Hickey’s DNA. Forensic analysis conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation supported the victim’s account of the crime.

While the first investigation was ongoing, Knoxville Police Department Investigator Keith Johnson received a complaint of another sexual assault by Hickey against a sixteen-year-old child. That victim was forensically interviewed at Childhelp and disclosed that Hickey started sexually assaulting her when she was in the fourth grade. Those assaults continued from 2006 to 2014 when the crimes were disclosed and Hickey was arrested.

“My Office has a duty and responsibility to protect this community, especially when it comes to children,” said DA Charme Allen.”Because of the bravery of the victims who came forward in this case, this community is now safer with Hickey behind bars.”

If you have any questions, please contact Sean McDermott at 865-215-2515 or Sean.McDermott@knoxcounty.org. For more information about the District Attorney’s Office, visit our website at dag.knoxcountytn.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.