State of Tennessee v. James Robert Howell

Syllabus

A Knox County jury convicted the defendant, James Robert Howell, of four counts ofsexual battery by an authority figure and one count of assault by offensive or provocativetouching, for which he received an effective sentence of four years and six months inconfinement. On appeal, the defendant contends the evidence presented at trial wasinsufficient to support his convictions. The defendant also contends that the trial courterred in admitting hearsay evidence, in admitting evidence of prior abuse, and in imposingan excessive sentence. Additionally, the defendant claims improper argument by the Stateaffected the verdict. After reviewing the record and considering the applicable law, weaffirm the judgments of the trial court.