Tennessee sex offender convicted of raping his 7-year-old grandchild
05/04/2023 3:25 pm PDT
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (TCD) -- A 64-year-old sex offender faces between 25 and 45 years in prison after he was convicted this week of raping his 7-year-old grandchild.
According to Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen, Gary Len Rollins Sr. raped and sexually assaulted the child while he was watching the victim and other grandchildren at his home after a dentist appointment. Childhelp Tennessee interviewed the child, who eventually shared details about the abuse.
Allen announced May 4 that following a three-day trial, a jury convicted Rollins of rape of a child and two counts of aggravated sexual battery. His sentencing is scheduled for June 29.
According to Allen, Rollins was already a registered sex offender in the state of Tennessee after he was convicted of aggravated rape in 1988 for raping his own 2-year-old child. He served a 15-year sentence for the conviction.
In a statement, Allen said, "We are seeking the maximum sentence in this case to make sure this offender can never harm another child."
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