Repeat Domestic Abuser Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison
DA Charme Allen announces that prosecutors in the Domestic Violence Unit obtained a ten-year sentence against a man who tried to ram a car into his wife. Timothy Ronald Cunningham, 46, was convicted of Aggravated Assault, Reckless Endangerment, and Domestic Assault. At a sentencing hearing today, Judge Scott Green ordered Cunningham to serve ten years in the Tennessee Department of Correction.
In a two-day trial in October, Assistant District Attorneys Christy Caviness and Robert DeBusk explained to the jury that on December 19, 2022, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic disturbance at the intersection of Barnard Road and Sood Road. At the scene, officers discovered that Cunningham drove his vehicle into the victim’s vehicle, ramming it several times. After the victim exited her car, Cunningham rammed the vehicle several more times in an attempt to knock the vehicle into the victim. Cunningham fled on foot and was arrested at a later time. Once in custody, KCSO Detective Jeremy Wise learned that Cunningham made several phone calls to the victim admitting what he had done and threatening her about cooperating with the prosecution.
“We know that it takes several incidents of domestic violence before a victim is willing to follow through with prosecuting a case,” said DA Allen. “We do everything we can to help the victim and hold the offender accountable. Sometimes, that means going forward on the case without the victim.”
Cunningham was on probation at the time for Domestic Assault. He also has prior felony convictions for Attempted Second Degree Murder and Reckless Endangerment with a Deadly Weapon. Assistant Victim Witness Coordinator Marian Billingsley 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.