Domestic Violence and Drug Defendant Sentenced to Eleven Years in Prison

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Domestic Violence Unit and Felony Drug Unit obtained an eleven-year-sentence for a man who attacked his ex-girlfriend. Austin Kane Rudd, 25, pled guilty to two counts of Aggravated Assault and one count of Possession with Intent to Sell Methamphetamine over .5 Grams. Judge Steve Sword accepted the agreement and ordered Rudd to serve his sentence in the Tennessee Department of Correction.

Assistant District Attorneys Willie Lane and Jake Ens prosecuted the case. The proof showed that on March 6, 2021, Knoxville Police Department Officer Tucker Pate responded to a 911 call of a domestic disturbance. At the scene, the victim stated that her ex-boyfriend, Rudd, kicked in her front door, threw a plate of food at her, and started punching her in the head. Rudd then started hitting the victim with a broom handle and choking the victim until she started feeling light-headed. The victim was able to break free and call 911. Rudd fled the scene, leaving the victim bruised and bleeding. Rudd was not located until a few days later when he tracked the victim down in her car near West Town Mall. Rudd told the victim that if she did not pull over her car, he was going to ram her. Rudd also told her that if she did not have sex with him, he was going to kick her teeth in and then kill her and her children. KPD Ofc. Christopher Ott located Rudd near the O’Charley’s on Kingston Pike. Rudd attempted to flee in his vehicle but drove over the curb and hit a parked car.

After making bond for those two Aggravated Assaults, Rudd was stopped on April 18 in the parking lot of West Town Mall by Knox County Sheriff’s Office Officer Matthew Johnson. Rudd was located in a stolen Mustang. During a search of the Mustang, officers located drugs and drug paraphernalia, including methamphetamine. Rudd told officers he did not know the Mustang was stolen and was not at the mall to sell drugs. Rudd insisted that officers look in his phone to prove this and provided his passcode. Looking in the phone, officers found messages both arranging drug transactions and discussing removing the VIN on the Mustang so it could be legally registered.

“Over the last several years, more warrants have been sworn out charging domestic-related crimes than any other offense in Knox County, with law enforcement responding to a domestic call every thirty minutes,” said DA Charme Allen.”We are glad that this agreement provided for the safety of this victim.”

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.