KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A convicted child molester was found guilty in March of aggravated battery of an 11-year-old girl. On May 6, officials said he was sentenced to 14 years in prison for two counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of violating the sex offender register.
Christopher L. Spencer, 45, assaulted the child in November 2019 while he was visiting the victim's mother, according to the Knox County District Attorney General's Office.
The abuse occurred while the mother was in another room and Spencer was alone with the girl.
"After this assault, the victim’s mother learned Spencer is a registered sex offender. Spencer later texted the mother saying it was a misunderstanding and that he only 'tickled' the child," according to a release from the DA's Office.
According to authorities, the victim told her mother what happened when Spencer went outside to smoke.
Spencer at first told investigators he hadn't touched the child at all "and then said the victim’s mother was making this up because she was mad," according to the DA's Office.
Knox County Assistant District Attorneys Ashley McDermott and Jordan Murray prosecuted the case.
Spencer, taken into custody Thursday after the verdict, was scheduled to be sentenced on April 14 by Criminal Court Judge Kyle Hixson, records show.
Spencer in 2019 already had been convicted of sexual abuse of a 14-year-old child while he was in the U.S. Army in 2014.
The prosecution said they planned to use his prior record against him at the sentencing trial.