Martin man arrested for sexual battery

James LaRue

Story by Shannon Taylor Senior Investigative Reporter

On Dec. 17 Investigator Kelly Hendon with Martin Police Department received information regarding a possible sexual battery that occurred in Martin.

Upon speaking to the victim, she advised that 22-year-old James LaRue asked if he could give her $100 to let him touch her.

The victim advised LaRue multiple times “no” but according to the victim, LaRue kept touching her on her thigh and then in the vagina area-all on the outer clothing-approximately five times.

Due to the victims statement a warrant of sexual battery was completed and LaRue was charged with sexual battery.

According to the Tennessee sex offender registry, sexual battery is unlawful sexual contact with a victim by the defendant or the defendant by a victim accompanied by any of the following circumstances: force or coercion is used to accomplish the act; the sexual contact is accomplished without the consent of the victim and the defendant knows or has reason to know at the time of the contact that the victim did not consent; the defendant knows or has reason to know that the victim is mentally defective, mentally incapacitated or physically helpless; or the sexual contact is accomplished by fraud. As used in this section, “coercion” means the threat of kidnapping, extortion, force or violence to be performed immediately or in the future. Sexual battery is a Class E felony.

LaRue was previously charged in Jan. 2020 with sexual battery where the disposition was a guilty plea/lesser charge for the crime and holds a classification status of “sexual with children” according to the Tennessee sex offender registry. Sexual Against Children refers to a sexual offender whose victim(s) was/were 12 years of age or younger.

DISCLOSER: All information obtained came from the Martin Police Department affidavit provided by Investigator Kelly Hendon.