More than 30 people showed up to support Richards at the sentencing last week.

The victim was 16 when she reported the abuse, saying it began two years earlier. She told authorities where they could find DNA evidence at her home and said Richards had texted her about taking their relationship “to the next level.” Authorities said they found her mattress stripped bare and his phone factory reset, but they were able to recover his DNA.

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Information from: Knoxville News Sentinel, http://www.knoxnews.com