Elizabethton Man Charged With 4 Counts Of Child Rape
John Andrew Hicks is charged with 4 counts of rape of a child and solicitation of a minor.
An Elizabethton man has been arrested and charged with 4 counts of rape of a child. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office say John Andrew Hicks was arrested and jailed on a $250,000 bond. The Veterans Administration in Johnson City confirmed to 11 Connects that Hicks is employed there, but said he was not on duty when we called them. Hicks is also charged with solicitation of a minor, he has a preliminary hearing in court set for October 26th.
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
First of all “confused”, your screen name says it all. Obviously, you read something completely different than was reported in the news. It didn’t state that this was a one time incident, it stated that all 4 counts happened at the same time to the same 12 year old victim. You don’t know if this has happened before..you couldn’t possibly know what happened. When you have a child and yes 12 is definetly a child, how could you possibly EVER see them as anything other than that. The 32 year old is an adult and is responsible for his own actions. Never, NEVER blame a child for “asking for it” as you seem to be implying. No one here knows what happened. It is common sense that someone that is placed under $250,000 dollars bail and has plenty of email evidence, is put in jail on a whim. What you need to take stock of is the real victim here…THE CHILD! However they met and corresponded is beside the point. Once you see a 12 year old, you know the difference. Children this age don’t have a grasp on how dangerous meeting people on the internet can be…even adults. Please don’t degrade the child by saying it was his fault for anything….that is truly disgusting.
bunny hugger
When choosing between “hey, are you sure your 18, can I see some ID” and “hey, how did I get 25 years in prison”? I think any moron can see that common sense may win out….
I agree, confused. There may be many variables we may not know.
If he is guilty, he is guilty…but it is now our place to judge if we dont know all the facts.
and msrose49, since none of us has seen the alleged victim we dont know if the person looked young or not. To say anyone with any small amount of common sense would ask for I.D. is pretty far fetched.
Again, I am not defending these alleged actions. Provided he is guilty he should be prosecuted. IF he is guilty.
I know they met on Craig’s list because it was on the news and it also stated this was a one time incident. I just think we shouldn’t condemn someone until we know ALL the facts not just what they tell us on the news. Isn’t it suppose to be innocent until proven guilty?
These day’s (or in the past as has been shown) anybody -man or woman-with any small amount of common sense would ask for an I.D. of any person that looks young. Heck…they still card me now and then for cigarettes and I have gray hair and wrinkles! People not realize that one little “mistake” can cost you 25 years of your life!
A child is a child and a 12 year old is still 12. Even if they may look older surly they show their immaturity in their actions speech and knowledge. As I said “a small amount of common sense”!
Confused—The child could have lied about his age…who knows? But if dude showed up and realized he was a kid. Why didn’t he leave immediately? Did this 4 counts of child rape occur at the same time or over the course of several encounters?
How do you know they met on Craig’s list?
Either way…I don’t condone his actions. If you find a rope….I got a nice walnut tree in the backyard 
!
This man and this child met on Craigs list where it states that you must be 18 years of age. Why was this 12 year looking on craig’s list trying to find someone to have sex with. Could this 12 year old lied about his age? When I was 12 I was mistaken for an 18 year old all the time. How do we know this child didn’t lie knowing this man wouldn’t engage in sexual conduct with him if he knew his real age.
In TN, rape of a child is different then What is perceived as “consensual” statutory rape. TN Code (39-13-522 A) defines Rape of a Child as “the unlawful sexual penetration of a victim by the defendant or the defendant by a victim, if the victim is more than three (3) years of age but less than thirteen (13) years of age.“ It is a Class A Felony. Under TN Code (39-13-522 B2A), “a person convicted of a first or subsequent violation of this section shall be punished by a minimum period of imprisonment of twenty-five (25) years. The sentence imposed upon any such person may, if appropriate, exceed twenty-five (25) years, but in no case shall it be less than the minimum period of twenty-five (25) years.“
When I read “rape of a child” I picture a very young child, like around 12 years old or younger and forcible sex (not that a 12 year old can have consentual sex). Is this about right or can rape of a child be “consentual sex” of an older teen who is not yet old enough to legally consent?
This is all just my curiosity. In no way am I attempting to condone what this man allegedly did.
commonsense, finally something we can agree on. lol
(provided he is indeed guilty of course)
Advertisement