While waiting for Circuit Court Judge Curtis Smith to take his place on the bench, Edwards called his attorney, Assistant Public Defender Jeff Harmon, to his side and the two began a short discussion. At the conclusion of their chat, Harmon crossed the courtroom and conferred with Assistant District Attorney Steve Strain for a few minutes. A plea bargain was being arranged.

Edwards had originally been charged with two counts of child rape which carries a 15 to 25-year sentence. Both the prosecution and the defense felt the plea bargain arrangement was in the best interest of all, especially the children. By accepting the plea it would not be necessary for the two girls, seven and eight at the time of the incident, to be traumatized by testifying in open court.

After Strain and Harmon informed Judge Smith of the plea agreement, Judge Smith explained to the jury pool the court had business concerning the trial to discuss in private. He adjourned court and moved the proceedings to the third floor courtroom with just the participants involved in the case present. This was necessary to prevent the potential jurors from learning about the plea discussions in the event it was rejected by Judge Smith, and the jury trial was to continue.

When Judge Smith reconvened court, he addressed the defendant. "There are two points I want to cover," he said. "The first is that you are making this plea voluntarily."

To this Edwards responded, "I am."

Judge Smith continued, "Secondly, I want to be sure you fully understand your constitutional rights."

After listening to the judge meticulously explain his rights, the defendant confirmed he understood.

Judge Smith turned to the district attorney asking him to outline the state's case against Edwards.

According to the district attorney, the state would have presented witnesses in addition to using the defendant's statements to prove that in May 1998 he sexually molested two girls.

The state would introduce the findings of Rhea County Chief Deputy Charles Byrd's investigation. In his report, Byrd stated the girls' parents would routinely drop the kids off to spend weekends with Edwards who is their uncle.
In the early morning hours, thinking the girls were asleep, Edwards would enter their room and sexually fondle them. When the girls appeared to wake up, he would stop.

The two girls were fondled several times on their weekend stays before they told their teacher what their uncle was doing. The teacher in turn notified the parents who contacted the Rhea County sheriff's department.

At the conclusion of the district attorney's presentation, Judge Smith accepted Edward's guilty plea and sentenced him to 10 years in prison. Edwards has the potential to earn parole in eight and a half years.

Edwards is being held in Rhea County jail awaitng transfer to the custody of Tennessee Department of Corrections.