A Tennessee appeals court has solidified a half-century prison term for Jacque Bouvier Bennett, a Davidson County man found guilty of the aggravated rape and sexual battery of a two-year-old girl.
The Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee released its decision on April 10, 2026, rejecting several defense arguments aimed at overturning the original jury verdict.
Bennett was sentenced to an effective 50 years in the Tennessee Department of Corrections following his trial for crimes involving the daughter of his girlfriend’s son.
The case originated in August 2018 after the victim’s mother, Rachel Bragg, noticed a sudden shift in her daughter’s behavior and discovered the child acting out the abuse with dolls. According to court records, the toddler identified “Jacque” as the person who had “poked” and “hurt” her while she was staying at her father’s home.
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On appeal, Bennett’s legal team challenged the victim’s competency, arguing that at five years old, she was too young to understand the difference between a truth and a lie. They also claimed the presence of the girl’s mother in the courtroom during testimony was “unduly influencing.”
Presiding Judge Robert W. Wedemeyer, writing for the court, dismissed these concerns. The court noted that while the child struggled to provide a dictionary definition of “truth,” she clearly understood that lying leads to “trouble” and promised to be honest. The judges also found no evidence that the mother’s presence—which is protected under the Victim Bill of Rights—improperly coached the child.
“A very young child seeking out a familiar face in a stressful situation does not equate with Defendant’s assertion that the mother was coaching a response,” the court noted, citing the trial judge’s earlier observations.
The defense further argued that the jury should not have seen the victim’s recorded forensic interview and pointed out that the girl did not formally point to Bennett in the courtroom.
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However, the appeals court ruled that the recorded interview met all legal standards for trustworthiness and that testimony from multiple family members clearly established Bennett’s identity as “Jacque.”
Bennett’s convictions include aggravated rape of a child, aggravated sexual battery, and assault by offensive touching. With the appellate court’s affirmation, his 50-year sentence remains in place.
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