Image Credit: TN General Assembly & TNCourts.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
On Monday, Tennessee lawmakers held a joint convention of the House and Senate for the purposes of confirming the governor’s appointees for the Tennessee Court of Appeals.
Judge Steven Sword of Knox County received a 79-10 vote from members of the House and a 29-2 vote from members of the Senate and was confirmed to the Eastern Section Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals.
Later that day, one Republican lawmaker told The Tennessee Conservative that he was not properly informed about Sword’s background until a few minutes before the joint convention voted on confirmation.
This same lawmaker said he wished that everyone had known about it beforehand so that they could have asked more questions when Swords came before them for a hearing the week prior.
Allegedly, GOP leadership put Sword forward to lawmakers but did not take the time to inform caucus members on the judge’s controversial background.
Back in May of 2019, over 14,000 signatories placed their name on a petition to remove Sword from his position as Knox County Criminal Court Judge after a “lenient” decision in the sentencing of a former pastor convicted of rape.
Former pastor at My Father’s House Church of God in Lenoir City, David Lynn Richards Jr., was convicted by a Knox County jury in February of that year on nine felony counts which included rape, incest, and sexual battery by an authority figure for abusing his adopted daughter for around two years.
The prosecution recommended that the maximum amount of prison time for each different charge be served consecutively. A total of 72 years in prison.
Sword was the presiding judge over this case and Richards, 41-years old at the time, received only a 12-year sentence.
The criminal court judge noted during the sentencing hearing, that most of the charges against Richards were punishable by just probation under state law.
It was the charge of sexual battery by an authority figure that mandated at least a 3-year incarceration.
Sword, who previously specialized in child abuse cases during his time as a Knox County prosecutor stated during the hearing that, “This is either a really horrible, horrible thing that somebody did … or it’s the height of injustice.”
The judge stated that he believed the victim’s account of the abuse, but also noted that the offender had no previous criminal record and that a pre-sentencing report deemed Richards to be a “good candidate for rehabilitation.”
In the end, Sword called the recommended 72-year prison term “beyond a just result.”
The victim, Amber Richards, was 21-years old at the time of the verdict and came forward publicly afterwards.
“I spent almost six years in his house and another six years going through this case. How’s that fair?” she told the Knoxville News Sentinel. “But at the end of the day, I’m just glad he’s in jail.”
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. Adelia is The Tennessee Conservative’s on-site reporter for the Tennessee General Assembly. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
My question is WHY they weren’t informed??