Defendant Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Three Children
DA Charme Allen announces that prosecutors in the Child Abuse Unit obtained multiple convictions against a man who sexually assaulted three children over the course of several years. Jessie Eugene Hurst, 71, was convicted of three counts of Rape of a Child, three counts of Aggravated Sexual Battery, two counts of Sexual Battery by an Authority Figure, two counts of Rape, and one count of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child. Judge Hector Sanchez set the case for sentencing on October 22 where Hurst faces twenty-five to forty years in prison on each of the Rape of a Child counts.
In a two-day trial, Assistant District Attorneys Heather Ens and Teddy Ryan explained to the jury that the victim disclosed that Hurst sexually assaulted her numerous times beginning in 2015 when she was eleven years old. Knox County Sheriff’s Office Detective Vanessa Nieves led the investigation during which two additional victims were identified. Similarly, Hurst sexually assaulted those victims when they were twelve and thirteen years old. Hurst testified that “to the best of his knowledge” he did not molest the victims; however, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all charges.
“Three brave victims came forward to hold their abuser accountable and ensure that no other children can be harmed by this offender,” said DA Allen.
Rape of a Child is a Class A felony that carries a punishment between twenty-five and forty years in prison without the possibility of parole. At sentencing, prosecutors will seek consecutive sentences so Hurst is held accountable for the crimes committed against each of the three victims. Assistant Victim Witness Coordinator Leah Graves and Legal Secretary Erin Morrison aided in the prosecution of this case.
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.