Harriman attorney, Lenoir City woman charged in child sex case
 Kent Booher (source: Loudon County Sheriff's Office)
Kent Booher

LENOIR CITY (WATE) - A Harriman attorney is charged with three counts of statutory rape, and one count each of solicitation of a minor and especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor following his arrest Wednesday.

A Lenoir City woman also faces a charge of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor in connection with the case.

Kent Booher, 58, was arrested at his home in Harriman after indictments were issued by a Loudon County grand jury.

Booher is being held in the Loudon County Jail on a $29,000 bond.

Malina Nanette Akin (source: Loudon County Sheriff's Office)Malina Nanette Akin, 36, is being held in the Loudon County Jail on a $10,000 bond. She is also accused of violating parole.

The indictment accuses Booher and Akin of using a minor to participate in the production of material that includes sexual activity or simulated sexual activity.

Booher is charged with three counts involving the alleged rape of a girl under the age of 16. He is also accused of using electronic communication to solicit the engagement of sex with the teen.

According to the Tennessee Bar Association, Booher's practice includes criminal and juvenile law.

He received a public censure last year by the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee after being accused of failing to properly represent a client. The board said Booher "failed to act with reasonable diligence in an estate matter, failed to maintain reasonable communication with his client, and failed to expedite litigation."

Harriman lawyer arrested on statutory rape charges; woman also charged

News Sentinel staff

Loudon County authorities today announced the arrest of a lawyer on charges of statutory rape and sexual exploitation of a minor.

Kent Booher, 58, was arrested Wednesday at his home in Harriman, according to Sheriff Tim Guider.

Also arrested on a charge related to the case was a woman, Malina Nanette Akin, 36, of Lenoir City.

Both were indicted by a Loudon County grand jury. Authorities said all of the charges involved a girl under the age of 16.

Booher is charged with three counts of having sex with the underage girl, using a minor to “participate in the production of material which included the minor engaging in sexual activity or simulated sexual activity,” and soliciting the girl through another person.

Akin is charged with promoting or permitting a minor to participate in the production of illegal sexual material.

The offenses all occurred between Dec. 1 of last year and May 13 of this year, the indictment states.

Guider said the charges are part of a multi-agency investigation that is ongoing but would not elaborate.

In July 2012, Booher was publicly rebuked by the State Board of Professional Responsibility for his handling of an estate matter and then lying about his actions. His law license was not suspended.

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8/16/13