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DA: Knoxville man sentenced to 77 years in prison after decade of sexually abusing child

The repeated rapes and sexual abuse of the child continued until the child disclosed the decade of abuse to the child’s mother.

KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. — Prosecutors with the District Attorney's Child Abuse Unit obtained a 77-year sentence against a Knoxville man who sexually abused a child for over a decade, officials said.

40-year-old Aaron Michael King was convicted of five counts of rape of a child, five counts of rape, statutory rape by an authority figure, two counts of aggravated sexual battery, especially aggravated sexual exploitation, tampering with evidence, especially aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated kidnapping. 

In a four-day trial in August, Assistant District Attorneys Sarah Keith and Jordan Murray explained to the jury that King began sexually abusing the victim when the victim was five years old, according to a press release.

Officials said the abuse continued as the child grew up with King using sexual acts as punishment for things like bad grades. 

King would force the child to perform sexual acts in order to go out with friends and also began filming sexual acts with the child, the press release states. 

The repeated rapes and sexual abuse of the child continued until the child disclosed the decade of abuse to the child’s mother.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office was informed of the situation.

The child was taken to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital for a sexual assault examination. Officers were able to recover DNA to corroborate the abuse.

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A Knoxville man accused of raping a child has been arrested and is being held on a $500,000 bond.

According to the Knox County Sheriff's Office, Aaron Michael King faces charges including rape of a child, rape, statutory rape by an authority figure, aggravated sexual battery, especially aggravated sexual, exploitation of a minor, tampering with evidence, especially aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated kidnapping.

The charges come following a Knox County Grand Jury presentment which came after an investigation by the Knox County Sheriff's Office Family Crisis Unit.

The KCSO Family Crisis Unit investigates cases involving domestic violence, child abuse, and elder abuse. The unit may be reached at (865) 215-6820 from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. After 4:30 p.m. and on weekends, please call (865) 215-2243 for assistance.

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