No Jail Time for Gleason Woman Charged with Child Neglect/Endangerment and Facilitation of Aggravated Statutory Rape

Shannon Taylor, Editor

A Gleason woman will face no jail time after pleading guilty at her Dec. 11 Circuit Court hearing. 47-year-old Nayomi Garner of Gleason was sentenced in the 27th Judicial District Circuit Court on Monday, Dec. 11 by Judge Jeff Parham after entering a guilty plea on two charges: Child Neglect or Endangerment, a Class A Misdemeanor, and Facilitation of Felony Aggravated Statutory Rape, a Class E Felony. Garner was represented by Martin attorney Lowe Finney.

Garner was indicted by the Weakley County Grand Jury in January 2023. The indictment stated that between the dates of March 1, 2022 and Nov. 20, 2022 Garner knowingly abused or neglected a child under 18 years of age so as to adversely affect the child’s health and welfare. The indictment also states that Garner unlawfully, feloniously knowing that Katelyn Black instended to commit the specific felony of Aggravated Statutory Rape but without the intent to promote or assist in, or benefit from, the felony’s commission, and knowingly furnish substantial assistance in the commission of said felony. 

Black was indicted on a charge of Aggravated Statutory Rape, a Class D Felony. The victim, or child, was 14 years old. Black’s indictment states that on the same dates at Garner, she unlawfully, knowingly and feloniously had sexual penetration of a juvenile when the victim was at least 13 but less than 18 and Black was 10 years older than the victim. 

A Class A misdemeanor is the most serious misdemeanor in Tennessee carrying a maximum sentence of 11 months and 29 days jail time and a $2,500 fine. 

A Class E felony is the least serious felony in Tennessee, carrying possible sentences of 1 - 6 years in prison and fines of up to $3000. 

A Class D felony carries a possible sentence of 1 - 12 years in prison and fines of up to $5000.

For the charge of Child Neglect or Endangerment, Garner was sentenced to 11 months and 29 days which was reduced to an alternate sentence of Supervised Probation. This sentence runs concurrent with charge 2. 

For the charge of Facilitation of Felony Aggravated Statutory Rape, Garner was sentenced to 2 years which was suspended to an alternative sentence of Supervised Probation, standard at 30% which means that Garner could be released from probation after serving only 219 days. Garner was also ordered not to have contact with the victim, her daughter, unless it was through DCS. 

On Feb. 13, 2023, For the charge of Aggravated Statutory Rape, Black was sentenced to serve 4 years with only a 9 month period of incarceration to be served at 100%. The remainder of her sentence was suspended to 3 years and 3 months supervised probation. Black is to have no contact with the victim.