Testimony in 'appalling' Nashville child rape case included sex abuse of animals

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- (WZTV) -- Testimony about the sexual abuse of children and animals was brought up during a Nashville rape case which prosecutors describe as one of the most "disturbing and appalling cases they had seen."

It took a Davidson County jury less than an hour to convict Jeremy Ledbetter, 29, of two counts of rape of a child, two counts of aggravated sexual battery of a victim under 13 years old, two counts of induce sexual activity by a minor and display of sexual acts to a minor under 13 years old.

The young victim testified that the rape and abuse occurred from the time he was 10 to 12 years old.

“All victims of child sexual abuse who testify in front of their abusers are brave to do so. The young victim in this case was particularly courageous for standing up and testifying about the type of humiliating abuse he suffered at the hands of Jeremy Ledbetter,” Assistant District Attorney Chad Butler said.

Ledbetter faces up to 134 years in prison. He will be sentenced on Aug. 18.