KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. — Judge Scott Green sentenced Anthony Woods to 30 years in prison on Friday.
He was convicted in May on fifteen counts of statutory rape by an authority figure, aggravated statutory rape, attempted rape and sexual exploitation of a minor.
The 14-year-old victim took the stand at the sentencing hearing to make a victim impact statement. Two other women also testified that Woods had inappropriately touched or propositioned them when they were in his home.
The sexual abuse happened over a period of nine months in 2016.
Original story
A Halls man was convicted of numerous sex crimes against a minor Friday after more than four years of legal proceedings.
49-year-old Anthony Woods was charged with rape, aggravated statutory rape, attempted rape, sexual battery, sexual exploitation of a minor, soliciting sexual exploitation of a minor among other charges filed against him back in December 2, 2016.
At the time, KCSO said Woods had turned himself in and had a criminal history that included assault.
On Friday, he was convicted on 15 counts in criminal court following a week-long trial.
The Knox County Sheriff's Office took him into custody, where he will await sentencing on June 24, 2021.
This isn't the first time Woods has faced statutory rape charges.
In 2005, Woods had been charged with statutory rape and sexual battery by an authority figure after being accused of having sex with a 16-year-old girl.
10News reported he had formerly been the Sunday School Superintendent of a Baptist church in North Knox County.
Woods denied the charges, and later accepted an agreement with prosecutors to plea guilty to reckless aggravated assault in that case.
