RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - In 2022, Murfreesboro Police began investigating allegations of sexual abuse involving an 11 and 12-year-old, after the children’s grandmother made concerning observations. Rutherford County Assistant District Attorney Trevor Lynch stated... After the grandmother read through the text messages on the phone, she took the two girls and the cellphone to the police department.
Shortly after the investigation began, detectives were able to capture the lengthy history of questionable text messages between suspect, Anthony Caldwell, and at least one of the children... As evidence was being gathered, authorities met with the suspect...
The evidence, along with information from interviews, led to a Grand Jury Indictment...
Caldwell, who turned 31 just days before this report, was originally charged in 2023. However, after multiple continuances were granted by the court, the case was not heard until this past month... In two months, Caldwell will return to court for his sentencing hearing. On January 22, 2026, he will have a clearer picture of what the remainder of his life will look like. According to state law, he could be ordered to spend what adds up to the rest of his life in prison.
As noted by the Assistant District Attorney, Caldwell was convicted on all counts of the indictment. Each count carries its own sentencing guidelines, and the court will determine whether the sentences are served concurrently or consecutively.
Caldwell was convicted of three counts of Rape of a Child, two counts of Aggravated Sexual Battery, two counts of Especially Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, and one count each of Soliciting Sexual Exploitation of a Minor – Under 13 and Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child.
Sentencing in Tennessee can be either concurrent or consecutive. When sentences are concurrent, they are served at the same time, with the longest sentence representing the total time behind bars. When sentences are consecutive, each sentence is served separately — meaning the first must be completed before the next begins. In that case, the total time in prison equals the sum of all individual sentences combined.
New Sentencing in Tennessee: While sentencing typically reflects the laws in place during the year the crimes occurred, state legislators have increased the penalties for especially heinous child rape cases. The recent changes in sentencing will not affect Caldwell, but they do apply to anyone convicted in certain rape cases tied to crimes committed in 2024 or later.
A new law that took effect on July 1, 2024, imposes even harsher penalties for anyone convicted of aggravated rape of a child or especially aggravated rape of a child. The legislation specifically targets sexual assaults involving minors, particularly cases in which an adult is found guilty of raping a child under the age of 12. Depending on the circumstances, the court may impose the death penalty.
