A Tennesee man who kidnapped a teen girl in March 2018 reportedly wants a reduction in the prison sentence handed down to him earlier this month in federal court. A lawyer for convicted child predator Tad Cummins’ filed an appeal Wednesday on his behalf.
Associated Press reports that former Maury County high school teacher Tad Cummins’ notice of appeal request will be reviewed by the Sixth Circuit court in Cincinnati. The appeal comes a week after a judge at the U.S. District Court in Nashville sentenced Cummins to 20 years behind bars without parole possibility, for obstruction of justice and kidnapping his former student and driving her across state lines “to have sex with a minor.”
According to The Daily Herald, Cummins’ lawyer, Dumaka Shabazz, didn’t explain the legal argument behind the appeal. Cummins’ sentence was reduced once already, from the 30 years prosecutors initially asked for, to 20 years set forth by the judge presiding over the case. Cummins’ defense team previously argued that he should get only 10 years.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, the victim, Elizabeth, who Cummins started grooming when they met at school, was too upset to read her victim impact statement during his sentencing on January 16. She cried when the time came for her to address Cummins. Instead, a federal prosecutor read it for her.
“What you did to me was unspeakable. You saw a broken girl, who was lonely, scared and traumatized. You made her feel safe and loved because you saw what she needed and made her believe you would be her protector. All you were was a man who just wanted sex, and you used me and manipulated me. Tad Cummins is a sick, disgusting criminal.”
Cummins read an apology statement to his family and then, to Elizabeth. He explained he blamed himself for everything and she was not at fault for anything.
“You were a kid. My misguided attempt to help you went sideways. Anything I can do to give you closure, I stand ready.”
Elizabeth was just 15 when she left her home in Culleoka, Tennessee, home with Cummins, 51 at the time. Cummins drove cross-country with the teen, which sparked a nationwide manhunt and an AMBER Alert. A little over a month later, authorities found the pair in a small shack in a secluded, wooded area in northern California.
Cummins admitted he carried on an inappropriate sexual relationship with the girl. After intense therapy following her rescue, Elizabeth later called Cummins “the devil” during an interview with ABC.
Check back with CrimeOnline as additional details become available.
[Feature Photo: Tad Cummins/Police Handout]
