Smyrna, TENNESSEE

He came to court hoping for probation for five statutory rape and two assault convictions.


Jan 6, 2007 - A trial date has been set for Kenneth Anderson Jr, 38, Smyrna High biology teacher, on statutory rape charges. Anderson faces 25 charges, including several statutory rape counts, sexual battery of an authority figure and rape by fraud. Trial is scheduled for May 7. Now scheduled for July 9.

DISTRICT INVESTIGATION in 2003 June 30 - The Tenneseean reports that

the Metro school district investigated paternity charges in 2003. Metro's Adult Sex Crimes Unit closed the case a month later with no charges filed. DNA tests concluded Anderson was not the father, and he was allowed to finish out the school year. Metro didn't rehire him, and Anderson moved on to Williamson and then Rutherford County.

School officials there launched their own investigation after a parent complained about racy text messages sent to their daughter. Rutherford fired him almost a month later and reported the incident to the state.

In February 2006, Metro police arrested Anderson on multiple counts of statutory rape involving two children. One was a student at Smyrna High School and one was not.

TRIAL DATE RESCHEDULED Jan 14, 2008 - Jury selection began in trial. THEN, Anderson's trial has been postponed until July 21. [No explanation.] He has been charged with three counts of rape, 13 counts of statutory rape and nine counts of sexual battery by an authority figure for having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student.

PREVIOUS CONVICTION Anderson was convicted on statutory rape charges last year for having a sexual relationship with a different minor. The 13-year-old Antioch girl’s father found them in bed together. She was not a student.
See District Attorney General Case Disposition 2006-C-2268, September 27, 2007

SENTENCED (on the conviction of rape of 13-year-old - newspaper says she was 14. D.A. office press release above says 13.)
Jan 31, 2008 - The Tennessean, says that Anderson came to court hoping to be placed on probation for his five statutory rape and two assault convictions. They lament: two years of good behavior wasn't enough. (He's been wearing an electronic ankle monitor for two years and has not violated the corresponding restrictions, which allow him to go only to work, church and the grocery store, they write.)

Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Monte Watkins gave Anderson two years for each rape count and 11 months and 29 days for the assault charges, but the judge has not decided whether Anderson will have to serve the sentences consecutively or concurrently.

The judge ordered Anderson to undergo a psychosexual evaluation before administering the terms of the sentence. Watkins will make a decision April 2.

Anderson is awaiting trial in July on charges of sexual battery involving a relationship he is accused of having with a 16-year-old girl.

SENTENCED Dec 5 - Anderson was sentenced Friday to nine years in prison. Anderson was already serving time for statutory rape and simple assault.