SUMNER COUNTY, TN — Many times, you don’t truly know what someone is capable of until the truth about what happened in dark rooms is brought to light by investigators—just as it was in a nearby county's circuit courtroom one week ago. Now that the full picture has emerged, it has opened the door to a potential sentence of up to 200 years behind bars, without the possibility of parole or probation.
A Sumner County jury found 46-year-old Christopher Howard Alessio guilty on 21 charges related to the sexual abuse of multiple children over a span of 16 years. The conviction follows a five-day trial led by Assistant District Attorneys Nathan Nichols and Tara Wyllie, concluding a four-year-long investigation.
Alessio was arrested in October 2022 by Hendersonville Police Detective Jason Steffy after a 13-year-old girl reported that she had been repeatedly raped and molested by Alessio during the summer of that year. Following his arrest, five more victims came forward, some alleging abuse dating back to 2005 in both Hendersonville and White House, Tennessee. White House Police Detective Sergeant Dan Hunter investigated those earlier allegations.
The jury returned guilty verdicts for 2 counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child, 6 counts of rape of a child, 7 counts of aggravated sexual battery, 5 counts of rape, and 1 count of sexual battery by an authority figure. Under Tennessee law, Alessio faces more than 200 years in prison with no eligibility for probation, parole, or early release.
According to the most recent court documents, a sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Alessio on September 5 at 9AM before Criminal Court Judge Dee David Gay.
Officials credit the successful prosecution to the courage of the six victims and collaborative work between law enforcement, child advocacy organizations, and court staff. Special thanks were given to the Hendersonville and White House Police Departments, Sumner County’s Child Advocacy Center (Ashley’s Place), OurKids Clinic, and support staff including Victim Witness Coordinators, administrative assistants, and legal interns.
