A 77-year old Murfreesboro man has been arrested on aggravated sexual battery charges. Reports indicate the alleged victim is under the age of 13.

Ellis Hardin who lives at the Raiders Crossing apartment complex, according to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, was booked into the county jail at 10:00 Saturday night under a $200-thousand bond.

Because the victim is under the age of 13, few details will be released by WGNS to protect the identity of the child. After the case goes to court, we will release the details of the outcome.

At this point, Hardin is innocent until proven guilty. 

Source:

Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office

What is the charge of “Aggravated Sexual Battery?”

Tennessee Code Annotated:

39-13-504.  Aggravated sexual battery. 

  (a) Aggravated sexual battery is unlawful sexual contact with a victim by the defendant or the defendant by a victim accompanied by any of the following circumstances:

   (1) Force or coercion is used to accomplish the act and the defendant is armed with a weapon or any article used or fashioned in a manner to lead the victim reasonably to believe it to be a weapon;

   (2) The defendant causes bodily injury to the victim;

   (3) The defendant is aided or abetted by one (1) or more other persons; and

      (A) Force or coercion is used to accomplish the act; or

      (B) The defendant knows or has reason to know that the victim is mentally defective, mentally incapacitated or physically helpless; or

   (4) The victim is less than thirteen (13) years of age.

(b) Aggravated sexual battery is a Class B felony.

HISTORY: Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1; 1993, ch. 289, § 1.