62-Year-Old Man Arrested in Tennessee After Legally Marrying 16-Year-Old in Alabama
A 62-year-old man in Giles County, Tennessee, has been arrested and charged with aggravated statutory rape following an investigation into a relationship involving a 16-year-old girl, according to the Pulaski Police Department.
Authorities identified the suspect as Michael Holley, 62, who investigators say was involved in a sexual relationship with the minor. Police confirmed that Holley legally married the 16-year-old in Alabama, where state law allows minors to marry with parental consent. Investigators said the girl’s parents approved the marriage, which was carried out across state lines.
Despite the marriage being legally recognized in Alabama, Tennessee law does not recognize marital status as a defense to statutory rape involving a minor under the age of consent. As a result, investigators pursued criminal charges after determining that sexual activity occurred while the victim was underage under Tennessee statutes.
Michael Holley Arrested
Holley was taken into custody on Thursday, Dec. 11, after being located on Kay Drive in Pulaski. Police released booking photos following the arrest and confirmed he was charged with aggravated statutory rape, a felony offense in Tennessee that carries significant prison time if convicted.
The case has drawn renewed attention to legal loopholes surrounding child marriage in the United States, particularly when marriages conducted in one state intersect with criminal statutes in another. Authorities said the investigation remains active, and no additional details about the victim are being released due to her age.
