COLUMBIA, Tenn. (WTVF) — New documents released today recommend that the teacher who was charged with the kidnapping of a 15-year-old girl out of Maury County, be sentenced to a total of 30 years in prison.
Cummins was initially charged in a criminal complaint on April 20, 2017, after he was found in Cecilville, Calif. with the 15-year-old female victim. Cummins and the 15-year old had been the subject of a nationwide search by law enforcement, after leaving the Columbia, Tenn. area on March 13, 2017.
While he originally entered a plea of "not guilty" for the charges against him, Cummins' attorney filed a motion for a hearing to change Cummins' plea to "guilty" in late March of 2018. If convicted, Cummins faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, but may end up with a much harsher sentence in the end.
Cummins' attorney responded to the recommended sentence with a filing that said Cummins wants specific things taken into consideration:
- Victim said she planned on running away anyway, she believed Cummins went with her for protection and that she was not kidnapped, and "that she had the great time on the trip."
- His conduct is not the "worst of the worst." The suggested Guidelines punishment of 30 years is greater than necessary to achieve the sentencing goals.
His attorney explained in the filing that 30 years in prison, in their opinion, would be too harsh of a sentence.
"For this conduct, 30 years represents death in prison and an extremely severe sentence for a man with no criminal history. Statutorily, this Court must sentence Mr. Cummins to a sentence of at least 10 years. That sentence would still be longer than he would face under state law and represents a fair sentence."
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