Child Rapist Receives Twenty-Five Year Sentence

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Child Abuse Unit obtained a conviction today against a man who repeatedly sexually abused his stepdaughter starting when the child was six years old. Kaleny Tihpen, 42, was convicted of Rape of a Child and received a sentence of twenty-five years to serve without the possibility of parole.

In a hearing before Judge Scott Green, Assistant District Attorney Joanie Stewart explained that on March 22, 2014, Knoxville Police Department Investigator Patty Tipton responded to a report of child abuse where a thirteen-year-old victim disclosed that Tihpen had been coming into her room at night and touching her. During a forensic interview at ChildHelp, the victim disclosed that the abuse started when she was six years old. Tihpen was interviewed by Inv. Tipton and admitted that he would enter the child’s room when she was sleeping and that he would digitally penetrate the child. At an earlier hearing, Tihpen tried to suppress his confession, claiming he did not understand his Miranda rights, but Judge Green denied his request.

“One of the most important tasks my Office undertakes is to protect children from predators,” said DA Allen.”Thanks to the hard work of the investigators and prosecutors on this case, this perpetrator will not be able to harm a child for the next quarter century.”

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.