A Knoxville man faces a charge for alleged sexual abuse of a minor. Heath Rein Authier, 40, was charged with Sexual Abuse – 2nd Degree, a class B felony, lascivous acts with a child, a class C felony, and indecent contact with a child on September 16,

 law enforcement learned from a witness that disclosed to her that he had been having sexual contact with a child. On September 17, the deputy and Department of Human Services, along with the witness, again corroborated the statements made on the previous date.

The Department of Human Services then contacted Authier, via telephone conversation, with the deputy present. Authier allegedly stated that he has had hand to genital contact, skin to skin with the victim on multiple occasions. On other occasions, the defendant allegedly had over the clothing genital to genital contact with the child, with what was disclosed to police was for the purpose of sexual gratification and arousal.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.