A Crab Orchard area man convicted in July 2024 of a single count of rape was denied his motion for a new trial in Cumberland County Criminal Court late last month.
In January this year, Quentin Eugene McDaniel, 31, was sentenced to nine years in prison at 100% (85% based on Tennessee Department of Correction incentives) followed by community supervision for life.
Assistant District Attorney Philip Hatch and defense attorney Randal Boston met with Judge Shawn Fry in chambers prior to court. When McDaniel's name was called during docket call, it was noted Fry had denied the motion. No testimony was presented.
Court records show Boston sought a new trial for his client, filing new trial motions based on the evidence not supporting the guilty verdict and that the trial judge made errors in rulings that were prejudicial to the defendant.
Hatch answered in a written motion that the evidence did support the guilty verdict and any reasonable person would have come to the same decision. He added that was not court error on rulings concerning the admission of evidence, or in trial procedure.
McDaniel was convicted by a Cumberland County jury following a two-day trial. The victim was identified as a 14-year-old at the time when the assault took place Jan. 29-30, 2018, at the home of the victim's grandmother on Cox Valley Road.
Conviction was based on the testimony of consistent statements from the victim, testimony from a TBI forensic scientist about DNA found at the scene and four witnesses.
The victim testified she was awakened by a someone on top of her with her head covered by a blanket. She reported to her grandmother what had happened. McDaniel was the only person in the room.
The grandmother did not report the incident to authorities. The victim went to the school and confided to a school nurse, who reported what the teen told her to the Department of Children's Services and Cumberland County Sheriff's Office.
McDaniel was questioned and a buccal swab from McDaniel submitted to the TBI lab matched body fluids found on the victim's clothing.
The case now leaves Cumberland County and any appeal will be filed with the Tennessee Criminal Court of Appeals.