What Happens If I Am Charged with Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child (TCA § 39-13-518) in Memphis, TN?

A Charge That Can Mean Decades in Prison—and a Lifetime of Consequences

If you’ve been charged—or believe you might be—under Tennessee Code § 39-13-518, the accusation is unlike most others in the state’s criminal code. Continuous sexual abuse of a child is not a single incident—it’s a charge that implies a pattern of abuse, and prosecutors treat it with the highest level of scrutiny and aggression.

At Harvey Criminal Defense Lawyers, we know how overwhelming it is to face such a charge. You may be scared, confused, and wondering what’s next. This post will explain what the law says, what penalties you face, and most importantly, how we build a defense designed to protect your rights and future.

What is “Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child” in Tennessee?

Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-13-518, this offense applies when someone is accused of committing multiple acts of sexual abuse against one or more children over a period of time.

To be charged under this statute, the State must allege one of the following:

• Three or more incidents of sexual abuse against one child on separate occasions
• At least one incident each involving three or more children
• At least five separate incidents involving two or more children

In each scenario, the prosecution must also show that there’s a pattern: that the victims shared common characteristics (such as all being relatives, living with the defendant, or knowing each other), or that the methods used were similar enough to be considered part of a continuing offense.

This is more than just a collection of accusations—it’s an attempt to paint a picture of repeated, planned abuse.

What Constitutes “Sexual Abuse of a Child”?

This charge is built upon underlying offenses. To prosecute you under TCA § 39-13-518, the alleged acts must include at least one of the following crimes:

• Rape or aggravated rape (if the child is between 13–17)
• Rape of a child (under 13)
• Aggravated sexual battery
• Sexual battery by an authority figure
• Solicitation of sexual exploitation of a minor
• Statutory rape by an authority figure
• Aggravated rape of a child
• Trafficking or promoting prostitution involving a minor

Each of these charges alone can carry severe penalties. When combined into a single count of continuous sexual abuse, the stakes escalate significantly.

Penalties for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child in TN

The punishment depends on how many acts of abuse the State can prove—and which specific offenses were involved.

• Class A Felony: If three or more of the alleged acts involve serious crimes like aggravated rape or rape of a child, you face 15 to 60 years in prison.
• Class B Felony: If two of the acts involve those same serious charges, the range is 8 to 30 years.
• Class C Felony: If the acts involve lesser—but still serious—charges, like sexual battery by an authority figure, the sentence is 3 to 15 years.

These are prison-only sentences. Probation is not available. If convicted, you’ll serve time—and you’ll also face mandatory sex offender registration for life.

What If I’m Also Facing Individual Charges?

Tennessee law allows prosecutors to charge you with both continuous sexual abuse and the individual incidents. However, if you’re convicted of the continuous abuse charge, the court will merge the individual counts at sentencing.

This gives the State a significant advantage: they can present multiple paths to conviction and see which one sticks. That’s why early legal representation is critical—to start challenging the narrative before it becomes too entrenched.

What Must the State Prove?

To secure a conviction under this statute, the jury must unanimously agree that:

• You committed at least three acts of sexual abuse over 90 days or more, or
• You committed at least five acts involving multiple victims in less than 90 days, and
• The acts involved the same or similar methods, victims, or characteristics

That level of detail means the State must present more than just a vague accusation—they must list specific acts, including the date range, the victim(s) involved, and the nature of each act.

Still, you don’t need to be convicted of every act listed. The jury only has to find that three or more specific acts occurred. And that’s where a focused defense can change everything.

Possible Defenses to Continuous Sexual Abuse Charges

Every case is different, but in general, we begin with the following goals:

1. Challenge the Timeline

The State must prove that the acts occurred within a specific window and meet the threshold for this statute. If they can’t do that, the continuous charge may not hold.

2. Dissect the Accusations

Many of these cases stem from delayed reporting, suggestive questioning, or family custody battles. We investigate motive, credibility, and consistency.

3. Suppress Illegally Obtained Evidence

We review every detail of how law enforcement handled the case. If interviews, searches, or seizures were done improperly, we push to suppress that evidence.

4. Attack the “Pattern”

This law requires a pattern—shared characteristics or repeated conduct. If the only common factor is the accusation, we argue that the State can’t lump the incidents together.

5. Expose Lack of Corroboration

In some cases, there’s no physical evidence—just a statement. We bring in experts to explain why memory, trauma, and outside influence can distort what someone believes happened.

What Should You Do If You’re Accused?

Being charged or investigated for continuous sexual abuse of a child is frightening—but what you do next matters more than anything.

Do:

• Contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer immediately
• Avoid any contact with the alleged victim(s)
• Preserve any digital communications that could help your defense
• Remain silent—don’t talk to police without a lawyer

Don’t:

• Try to “clear your name” on your own
• Assume it’s a misunderstanding that will go away
• Discuss the case on social media
• Ignore letters or calls from investigators

Charged with Continuous Sexual Abuse in Memphis? We Can Help.

When your freedom is on the line—and when the charge carries the weight of multiple serious felonies—you need a defense team that doesn’t flinch.

At Harvey Criminal Defense Lawyers, we don’t judge. We listen. We investigate. And we fight with everything we have.

Contact us today for a confidential consultation.

Let’s talk about your situation, your defense, and what we can do to protect your future—before it’s too late.