On March 24, 2022, Investigator Jeremiah Adams of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Department received a report regarding a 14-year-old male who had been raped. The juvenile reported that, on the night of March 23, 2022, he was staying at a house when 51-year-old father, James Rooker, called the juvenile into his room while everyone else was sleeping and raped him over the course of several hours. Investigator Adams collected evidence, including the juvenile’s clothes, and sent it to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab for analysis.

On April 28, 2022, Investigator Amber Wood of the Henderson County Sheriff’s Department and Sergeant Ed McMullen of the Jackson Police Department conducted an interview with Rooker who initially stated that nothing had happened and that the juvenile had been paid to make the accusations. Eventually, Rooker admitted to having sexual relations with the juvenile but claimed that it was consensual.

On January 31, 2023, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation completed its analysis and confirmed that Rooker’s DNA was found on the inside crotch of the juvenile’s jeans.

On April 3, 2023, the Henderson County Grand Jury returned an indictment against Rooker for rape and aggravated statutory rape. On September 4, 2026, after a two-day trial, a Henderson County jury found Rooker guilty as charged of two counts of rape and two counts of aggravated statutory rape.

“This Defendant sexually abused a minor and for that he will be incarcerated for a long period of time,” said District Attorney General Jody Pickens. “I am very thankful for the hard work of the law enforcement officers, Assistant District Attorney General Eric Wood, and the good citizens of Henderson County who served on the jury and after hearing the proof, returned this verdict. Lastly but perhaps most importantly, I am appreciative of the victim who had the courage to come forward and report what happened. As a result of the work of all that were involved, this Defendant will be in place where he will not be able to abuse any more young people.”