SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — A Shelby County jury on Wednesday found Cassell Hunt Jr. guilty on all six counts in a case involving sexual offenses against multiple children, delivering a swift verdict after approximately one hour of deliberation.

Hunt was convicted of Rape of a Child, Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child, Solicitation of a Minor, Aggravated Sexual Battery, and two counts of Rape. Prosecutors said the offenses occurred in Shelby County between 2019 and 2021.

The jury heard the case beginning Monday in Shelby County Criminal Court before returning guilty verdicts on each charge Wednesday. Assistant District Attorneys Venecia Patterson and Fredricka Brown prosecuted the case for the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office.

Because the case involved minor victims and highly sensitive allegations, the District Attorney General’s Office is withholding the victims’ names and other identifying details.

A sentencing date has not yet been announced. Hunt also has separate criminal charges pending.

Mulroy’s Public-Safety Focus

The verdict comes as Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy has repeatedly emphasized a public-safety approach centered on holding people accountable for serious violent crimes, particularly cases involving vulnerable victims.

While debate around criminal-justice policy often focuses on diversion, reform and how lower-level offenses should be handled, cases involving child sexual abuse stand apart because of their severity and lifelong consequences for victims and families. The Hunt prosecution illustrates the importance of experienced investigators, survivor-centered support and prosecutors prepared to take difficult cases before a jury.

The jury’s decision to convict on all counts sends a clear message: crimes involving the sexual exploitation and abuse of children will be pursued aggressively in Shelby County’s courts.

For Mulroy’s office, successful prosecutions in cases of this magnitude are also a measure of the community’s confidence in the justice system. Families deserve to know that allegations involving children will be treated with urgency, handled with care and prosecuted fully when evidence supports criminal charges.

As Shelby County continues to confront broader concerns about crime and safety, the outcome in this case underscores a core responsibility of the District Attorney General’s Office — protecting children, supporting victims and seeking accountability for those convicted of serious offenses.

By JR Robinson
CEO/Co-Founder, JustMy