Child Rapist Receives Fifty-Year Sentence without Parole

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Child Abuse Unit obtained a fifty-year sentence against a man who sexually assaulted a nine-year-old victim. Jonathan Mitchell Cooper, 31, was convicted of three counts of Rape of a Child, three counts of Incest, and one count of Aggravated Sexual Battery. Judge Steve Sword announced the fifty-year sentence today after prosecutors argued for consecutive sentences.

At trial in March, Assistant District Attorney Nate Ogle explained to the jury that starting in 2013, Cooper began to molest a nine-year-old child at their home in West Knoxville. The assaults occurred approximately a dozen times over the next two years until the victim finally disclosed what had been happening to the victim’s mother. Knoxville Police Department Investigator Shaun Sakovich sent the victim to ChildHelp to be interviewed by Forensic Interviewer Nicole Mullinax where the victim disclosed in detail the assaults that had occurred over the past two years.

“Parents are supposed to protect their children not prey upon them,” said General Allen.”Because of the hard work of investigators and prosecutors in this case, this child is now safe.”

At sentencing today, prosecutors argued that Cooper abused a position of trust to accomplish these crimes. The Court agreed noting that the relationship between the victim and the Defendant was the closest type of relationship that you can have. After serving his fifty-year sentence, Cooper will be placed on the Sex Offender Registry and will be subject to Community Supervision for Life.

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.