RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - A man convicted in a Rutherford County Courtroom for the rape of a child has filed an appeal, but according to the Clerk of the Appellate Courts on Monday, March 24, 2025, that appeal was denied.  

A Rutherford County jury convicted Luis Mendoza-Sanchez of multiple offenses, including aggravated assault of a mother, rape of a child, and four counts of aggravated sexual assault of the child, along with violating the Child Protection Act. He was sentenced to 59 years in prison. On appeal, Mendoza-Sanchez argued that the trial court made errors by denying his motion to sever the trials, allowing leading questions, limiting cross-examination of an expert, and the cumulative effect of these errors.

Prior to being convicted, the case began when the subject was reported for inappropriately touching the juvenile daughter of a former girlfriend. LaVergne Detective Steve Crotts worked with various agencies and gathered evidence to present to a Rutherford County Grand Jury.  The Grand Jury handed down indictments that led to a trial and later conviction in 2020.

After review of the trial, the appellate court upheld the trial court's judgments. As a result of the appeal outcome, 47-year-old Mendoza-Sanchez will remain behind bars for a total combined sentence of 59-years. His sentence is scheduled to come to a close in year 2079, at which point the offender will be one month shy of 102-years-old.

​MORE: In Tennessee, the Child Protection Act is a set of laws designed to keep children safe from harm. These laws focus on preventing abuse, neglect, and dangerous situations involving children. Harm can include physical abuse, neglect, or endangerment, as well as protecting children from sexual abuse. Tennessee is a mandatory reporting state, meaning individuals are legally required to report any suspected child abuse.

Additionally, judges have the authority to impose the death penalty in certain child rape cases. In 2024, House Bill 1663 and Senate Bill 1834 were passed, allowing the death penalty to be pursued under specific circumstances. The law officially took effect on July 1, 2024.

Source:  STATE OF TENNESSEE v. LUIS MENDOZA-SANCHEZ