A local man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for rape of a child.

According to a statement released from the Coffee County District Attorney’s Office, Darrell Floyd, 78, was convicted of rape of a child on Wednesday, July 15, after he pled guilty to the Class A felony.

“Floyd was sentenced to 25 years at 100% service rate, which means that he will die in prison,” District Attorney General Craig Northcott said.

Northcott added that the victim, Alexis (Lexie) Huckabee, asked Northcott to share and use her name to show there was no shame or fault on her or the victims, as well as to encourage others to come forward who have been similarly victimized. Northcott praised her for being an “amazing, brave and remarkably strong young lady.”

Per Northcott, Floyd sexually assaulted Huckabee, who was his foster child at the time, continuously over the course of many years and in various ways.

“Due to her parents’ unfitness, Floyd gained custody of Lexie when she was young,” Northcott said. “He took advantage of that relationship for his own evil and perverted purposes.”

He began sexually assaulting Lexie when she was eight years old, and, initially, Huckabee reported her abuse to family members. Northcott stated that her relatives discounted her disclosure because of Floyd’s standing in the community, including his role as a deacon at his church.

“She reported the abuse to the police, who did an initial investigation but determined that there was insufficient evidence to bring charges at that time,” Northcott said.

He continued and said Huckabee did not give up, and another family member reported similar abuse by Floyd on her and mentioned the prior case regarding Huckabee.

“Finally, through Lexie’s cooperation with law enforcement, strength and perseverance, she was believed and the evidence was developed to show the truth,” Northcott said. “This included his confession of his conduct. This also now includes his guilty plea that was taken under oath.”

Assistant District Attorneys Josh Powell and Marcus Simmons represented the State of Tennessee in the case. Northcott added that Inv. James Sherrill (now with the District Attorney’s Office) with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office was the lead investigator and praised his “willingness to reopen the prior investigation and do the work necessary to develop the evidence for the conviction was invaluable.”

 “Thank you to all who helped to find justice for Lexie Huckabee,” Northcott said. “Please pray for continued healing of Lexie.”

Northcott asked the community if anyone is the victim of child sex abuse to reach out to his office at (931) 723-5055, their local law enforcement agency, or call the Tennessee Child Sex Abuse Hotline at (877) 237-0004.

The victim in the case said justice has been a long time coming and encourages other victims not to remain silent but to come forward.

“I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the help and support of my family, my team, and the community,” she said in a statement to the Tullahoma News. “It’s hard to know what to say, when a decade of prayers come to fruition, in such a miraculous way. For the last two years this trial has been all consuming, transporting me back to my ‘childhood.’ Whilst in the midst of becoming a wife and a mom. It’s been two weeks since the verdict, and it still feels surreal. July 15th, 2026 will be a day etched in my memory forever. I was vindicated, every lie about me was proven false, and a monstrous person who tried to steal my voice, my identity, and my joy, is getting the punishment he deserved a decade ago.”

She said it was important to shed the light of day on the darkness the crime had brought.

“I think that the hardest part about the whole thing was knowing the truth, and resting in that, knowing one day everyone who supported him would too,” she said When I felt most alone my faith and my family kept me grounded and focused on the finish line.”

She wants other victims to be embolden by her case and to come forward so that justice can be done against other predators.

“It is important to use your voice! Speak up!” she said. “Tell the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. Teach your kids inappropriate touch, and how to say no and that they are allowed to. If I could tell my younger self or anyone who has experienced this kind of abuse anything it would be: “You were born to be loved, your identity is not what happened to you, but how you use it to help others. Don’t get stuck trying to fix and rationalize the past, keep moving forward one day at a time. And trust God with everything you have-even if it doesn’t make sense.”