Child Abuse Defendant Sent to Prison for 20 Years

On the morning he was set to go to trial, Marvin Karroll Hurst, Jr., 22, entered a guilty plea and accepted a twenty-year prison sentence. Hurst pled guilty to six counts of Aggravated Sexual Battery and one count of Sexual Battery by an Authority Figure. By law, he must serve at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the twenty years before he is eligible to meet with the parole board. After serving his prison term, Hurst must register as a sex offender and will be under community supervision for life. The case was prosecuted by Ashley McDermott of the Child Abuse Unit.

The case follows a referral of child sexual abuse to the Department of Children’s Services. After the initial referral and forensic interview, Knoxville Police Department Investigator Jonathan Harris gathered evidence, interview witnesses, and obtained a statement from the Defendant that ultimately led to Hurst’s conviction.

District Attorney General Charme P. Allen stated,”Our Office stands in this community to give a voice to the vulnerable. We work to bring criminals to justice and to keep others from being victimized. Twenty years in prison accomplishes both.”

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.