Fults, 38, admits molesting boy, 16: He tells officer relationship was consensual
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Fults, 38, of Warren County, was bound to the Rutherford County grand jury this week following a three-hour preliminary hearing in Murfreesboro. He faces six counts of rape for the alleged incidents which happened both at school and the victim’s house. Fults remains suspended without pay pending the resolution of the charges.
During the hearing, the victim testified he first met Fults while he was a student at Barfield and was hired by Fults to work with the soccer team.
The boy said the first incident involved Fults showing him pornographic tapes and asking him if he had ever thought about having a homosexual experience. Fults then allegedly performed oral sex on the boy for the first time, threatening to tell everyone he was gay if he did not comply.
The incidents happened on at least six occasions, the boy told the court. The boy’s mother said she never suspected anything was going on until her son ran out of the house one day when Fults came to pick him up.
The boy’s testimony was backed up by Sheriff’s Department detective Randy Groce who said he interviewed Fults twice after receiving the complaints.
Groce testified Fults admitted to having encounters with the boy after first denying the allegations. Fults reportedly told the officer he hoped he and the boy would remain together.
Given the officer’s testimony, the defense asked the court to consider the lesser charge of statutory rape, maintaining the relationship was consensual. The defense pointed to gifts and rides the boy accepted from Fults as evidence the relationship was not forced.
However, Special Judge Ned Coleman disagreed, saying the threat of telling his classmates the boy was gay could have been terrorizing to the youth, especially in light of his age.
Fults, who is free on bond, could face eight to 12 years on each rape count if convicted.
(Lisa Marchesoni of the Daily News Journal contributed to this story.)