Sex Crime Suspension

A Tennessee attorney has been suspended as a result of his guilty plea to statutory rape charges.

WATE.com reported in August 2013 on the charges

A Harriman attorney is charged with three counts of statutory rape, and one count each of solicitation of a minor and especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor following his arrest Wednesday.

A Lenoir City woman also faces a charge of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor in connection with the case.

Kent Booher, 58, was arrested at his home in Harriman after indictments were issued by a Loudon County grand jury.

Booher is being held in the Loudon County Jail on a $29,000 bond.

Malina Nanette Akin, 36, is being held in the Loudon County Jail on a $10,000 bond. She is also accused of violating parole.

The indictment accuses Booher and Akin of using a minor to participate in the production of material that includes sexual activity or simulated sexual activity.

Booher is charged with three counts involving the alleged rape of a girl under the age of 16. He is also accused of using electronic communication to solicit the engagement of sex with the teen.

According to the Tennessee Bar Association, Booher’s practice includes criminal and juvenile law.

He received a public censure last year by the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee after being accused of failing to properly represent a client. The board said Booher “failed to act with reasonable diligence in an estate matter, failed to maintain reasonable communication with his client, and failed to expedite litigation.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reported the conviction and jury deadlock in the case against Ms. Akin

According to court records, Booher repeatedly paid to have sex with the girl between December 2012 and May 2013. He videotaped the liaisons and also ordered the girl to send him nude photographs.

The suspension is interim pending final discipline. (Mike Frisch)