Giles County man charged following marriage with teenage girl

GILES COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — A 62-year-old man in Giles County was recently taken into custody and charged with aggravated statutory rape for a relationship involving a 16-year-old girl.

According to investigators with the Pulaski Police Department, Michael Holley, 62, married the 16-year-old in Alabama with permission from her parents.

News 2 obtained photos from Holley’s arrest, which reportedly took place on Thursday, Dec. 11, on Kay Drive in Pulaski.

Authorities said a tip submitted to the police department led to a months-long investigation.

“We got some complaints from some concerned citizens about this individual and this relationship,” said Sgt. Jordan Ramsey with the PPD.

According to investigators, Holley met the 16-year-old girl at a music venue and the teen was reportedly living with him at a home in Pulaksi.Holley reportedly married the teen in Alabama, where the legal age to marry is 18, but exceptions can be made with parental consent.

When asked if the teen’s parents condoned the marriage and relationship, Ramsey told News 2 that they did.

“Are the parents looking at any kind of repercussions for authorizing or condoning this?” asked News 2’s Andy Cordan.

“That’s something that I am going to be speaking to the D.A. about and we will still be looking into,” Ramsey replied.While the matrimonial union may be legal in Alabama, detectives said the minute Holley and his teenage bride began living together as man and wife in Giles County, he was committing a serious felony.

“Different states have different laws and here in Tennessee, you cannot have a sexual relationship with a juvenile with that type of an age gap,” Ramsey added.

Even though Ramsey can’t disclose the investigative details about her interviews, she told News 2 that neither Holley nor the teen’s parents agree with the charges.

“Did he [Holley] say anything, like I am sorry or anything?” asked News 2’s Andy Cordan.