State of Tennessee v. Kenneth R. Laws

The Defendant was charged with aggravated child abuse, a Class A felony. Pursuant to a plea agreement, the Defendant entered a "best interest" plea to abuse of a child under six years of age, a Class D felony, and the trial court sentenced the Defendant to a three-year term with the manner of service of the sentence to be determined following a sentencing hearing. Following a hearing, the trial court ordered the Defendant to serve the three-year sentence in the Tennessee Department of Correction. The Defendant now appeals, arguing that the trial court abused its discretion in denying judicial diversion and erred in denying alternative sentencing. We conclude that the record supports the trial court's denial of judicial diversion and alternative sentencing. Therefore, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.