Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-527
Sexual battery by an authority figure
- (a) Sexual battery by an authority figure is unlawful sexual contact with a victim by the defendant or the defendant by a victim accompanied by the following circumstances:
- (1) The victim was, at the time of the offense, thirteen (13) years of age or older but less then eighteen (18) years of age; or
- (2) The victim was, at the time of the offense, mentally defective, mentally incapacitated or physically helpless, regardless of age; and,
- (3)
- (A) The defendant was at the time of the offense in a position of trust, or had supervisory or disciplinary power over the victim by virtue of the defendant's legal, professional or occupational status and used the position of trust or power to accomplish the sexual contact; or
- (B) The defendant had, at the time of the offense, parental or custodial authority over the victim and used the authority to accomplish the sexual contact.
- (b) Sexual battery by an authority figure is a Class C felony.
Acts 1997, ch. 256, § 1; 1998, ch. 1034, § 1; 2005, ch. 478, § 1; 2006, ch. 897, § 1.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 73
cases (13 in the last 5 years), 1999–2026 · leading case: State v. Denton
State v. Denton (2004)
“Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-527 (2003). Ordinary meanings of “discipline” include: (1) order based on obedience to authority, and (2) punishment meant to correct or train.”
Doe v. Bredesen (2007)
“§§ 39-12-101 and 31-13-304, and two counts of sexual bat *1001 tery by an authority figure in violation of Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-527. At the time Doe was convicted, each of his sexual battery offenses was termed by Tennessee law as a “sexual offense” and he was classified as a…”
State of Tennessee v. Jimmy Dale Qualls (2016)
“an authority figure is defined as "unlawful sexual contact with a victim by the defendant” if "[t]he Victim was, at the time of the offense, thirteen (13) years of age or older but less then eighteen (18) years of age” and "[t]he defendant had, at the time of the offense,…”
State of Tennessee v. Jeremy Wendell Thorpe (2015)
“§ 39-13-527(a)(3). Sexual contact is defined as including] the intentional touching of the victim’s, the defendant’s, or any other person’s intimate parts, or the intentional touching of the clothing covering the immediate area of the victim’s, the defendant’s, or any other…”
State v. Scott (2009)
“Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-527(a)(1), (3)(B).”
State v. Dominy (1999)
“§ 39-13-522, sexual battery by an authority figure, Tenn Code Ann. § 39-13-527, or solicitation of a minor, Tenn.”
Calvert v. State (2011)
“§ 39-13-527 (2006); two counts of providing pornography to a minor, id.”
State of Tennessee v. Westley A. Albright (2018)
“, to engage in conduct that, if completed, would constitute a violation by the soliciting adult of one (1) or more of the following offenses: (1) Rape of a child, pursuant to § 39-13-522; (2) Aggravated rape, pursuant to § 39-13-502; (3) Rape, pursuant to § 39-13-503; (4)…”
State v. Dycus (2014)
“§ 39-13-527 (2010 & 2014); sexual exploitation of a minor, see id.”
Lorna Mae Gibson v. Charles William Bikas (2018)
“Within the same statutory part, a “[s]exual assault victim” is defined as “any person, regardless of the relationship with the perpetrator, who has been subjected to, threatened with, or placed in fear of any form of rape, as defined in § 39-13-502, § 39-13-503, § 39-13-506 or §…”
Steven Fults v. Eric Qualls (2016)
“” Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-527(a)(3)(A). This.”
State of Tennessee v. Stephen L. Denton (2004)
“Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-527 (2003). Ordinary meanings of “discipline” include: (1) order based on obedience to authority, and (2) punishment meant to correct or train.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-527(2003) — 2 cases
State v. Denton (2004)
“Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-527 (2003). Ordinary meanings of “discipline” include: (1) order based on obedience to authority, and (2) punishment meant to correct or train.”
State of Tennessee v. Stephen L. Denton (2004)
“Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-527 (2003). Ordinary meanings of “discipline” include: (1) order based on obedience to authority, and (2) punishment meant to correct or train.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-527(3) — 1 case
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-527(3)(A) — 1 case
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-527(3)(B) — 1 case
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-527(a) — 8 cases
State of Tennessee v. Jimmy Dale Qualls (2016)
“an authority figure is defined as "unlawful sexual contact with a victim by the defendant” if "[t]he Victim was, at the time of the offense, thirteen (13) years of age or older but less then eighteen (18) years of age” and "[t]he defendant had, at the time of the offense,…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-527(a)(1) — 6 cases
State v. Scott (2009)
“Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-527(a)(1), (3)(B).”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-527(a)(1)(A) — 1 case
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-527(a)(1)(B) — 1 case
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-527(a)(3) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Jeremy Wendell Thorpe (2015)
“§ 39-13-527(a)(3). Sexual contact is defined as including] the intentional touching of the victim’s, the defendant’s, or any other person’s intimate parts, or the intentional touching of the clothing covering the immediate area of the victim’s, the defendant’s, or any other…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-527(a)(3)(A) — 1 case
Steven Fults v. Eric Qualls (2016)
“” Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-527(a)(3)(A). This.”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-527(a)(3)(B) — 1 case
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-527(a)(l) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Jeremy Wendell Thorpe (2015)
“§ 39-13-527(a)(3). Sexual contact is defined as including] the intentional touching of the victim’s, the defendant’s, or any other person’s intimate parts, or the intentional touching of the clothing covering the immediate area of the victim’s, the defendant’s, or any other…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-527(b) — 1 case
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