Local Fitness Coordinator / Former YMCA Director Found Guilty in Murfreesboro Rape Case - One Additional Case of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Pending

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - A man by the name of Richard Lawrence Canada was found guilty on 8-counts of rape this week in the Rutherford County Courtroom of Chancellor Howard Wilson.

Richard Canada, who goes by the name of Rick Canada, has been a longtime figure in the community and was known for his volunteer work. He routinely worked with local non-profits that hosted fundraiser 5 and 10k runs. Canada has also volunteered as a cross country coach for high school cross country teams. His most recent employment was at the MAC, also known as the Murfreesboro Athletic Club. As late as Friday, the Better Business Bureau website showed that Canada was listed as the General Manager of the MAC. In years past, he was employed as an Executive Director for the YMCA in Murfreesboro.

Rutherford County Assistant District Attorney Sara Davis prosecuted the case for the state on Monday and Tuesday, May 1st and 2nd. WGNS asked Davis what the charges were that Canada faced... Davis explained what Rape by Fraud means in Tennessee...

Murfreesboro Detective Tiffany Host met with the victim and investigated the allegations that arose from an incident in July of 2021. The detectives' investigation led to a Grand Jury Indictment 8-months later. The trial didn't take place until this past week on May 1st and 2nd (2023). Davis told us... The final outcome of the trial - - A guilty verdict... After the trial, Canada was placed into the custody of the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, where he remains behind bars at this time.

Assistant DA Davis said the victim in the rape case was brave in coming forward with the allegations that led to the prosecution on Tuesday...

Canada will be back in court for sentencing in 2-months on July 14, 2023. Each of the 8-counts of rape he has been convicted of, hold a potential prison sentence of 8 to 12-years, according to the assistant DA. If sentenced at the maximum level, that adds up to 96-years.

Canada is still looking at legal battles that surround another case. The 64-year-old is facing two additional counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, which are unrelated to the rape convictions that occurred on Tuesday. The two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor are related to images that were allegedly found on his phone. A date for that court case has not been determined.

Source: Rutherford Co. Court Case Number: 75CC1-2022-CR-86965, Rutherford Co. District Attorneys Office

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