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Read comments (11)Edward Raven Odom, 31, accepted a negotiated sentence of 35 years in February after he was charged in April 2006 with child rape, rape and statutory rape over a period of several years.
Authorities had also confiscated his computer at the time and found child pornography in its memory, which added 10 more years to his 25-year sentence on the sexual charges.
This week, a disciplinary action report was issued by the Tennessee Department of Health, announcing that the revocation of Odom's Emergency Medical Technologist - Paramedic (EMT-P) license took place March 26, some 13 months after his conviction and nearly two years after the charges were filed.
The report listed the reason for the revocation as " (v)iolation or attempted violation or assisting in or abetting the violation of or conspiring to violate any provision of this part; any criminal statute of this state or the United States which involves moral turpitude or reflects upon the person's ability to fulfill such person's responsibilities under this part."
According to communications director Andrea Ewin Turner of the department of health, the revocation was done "as swiftly as possible" based on the Tennessee's Board of Emergency Medical Services quarterly meetings.
Odom was entitled to due process, Turner said, and once he had pled guilty, the board reviewed the case and made the decision to revoke the license, which then was forwarded to the department's general counsel.
"The typical process is that the case reviews are done quarterly," Turner said. Following the review, the revocation order was drawn up and Odom agreed to the consent order and signed it in December 2007.
The case was then heard at the board's next meeting in March, when the revocation became official.
Turner said the department prioritizes its cases based on threats to the public and since Odom was behind bars, there was no danger to the public.
She added that if Odom had been free following the filing of the charges, there would have likely been an immediate suspension of the paramedic license, but there was no threat since he has been confined for the past two years.
Odom was accused in 2006 of molesting four teen boys, penetrating them orally and anally and providing alcohol and pornographic pictures. He was also accused of injecting his victims with a drug to incapacitate them.
Prior to his 2006 arrest, Odom had been an employee of Bedford County Emergency Medical Service at its station on Union Street. Following the arrest, Odom was immediately suspended without pay and his paramedic license later expired on Oct. 31, 2006, according to state records.
Yet, the license was not completely revoked until March of this year.
Odom was named in a total of 199 warrants alleging rape, statutory rape and rape of a child. However, a number of charges were not sent to the grand jury and they reported out true bills of indictment on even fewer of those charges of physical acts.
Two years ago, Sophie Moery, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Health, stated if there was an investigation regarding Odom, it would have been as a result of a complaint, but that she couldn't confirm it, even though she knew the department was aware of the criminal charges filed against Odom.
"He does have a license to be a paramedic ... [and] ... there has not been an order" from the department regarding Odom's license, Moery was quoted in a Times-Gazette story dated April 22, 2006.
Senior Staff Writer Clint Confehr contributed to this story.
Yes he needed more time. I wish he would file an Appeal. I will be there, They will tell me if he has. AS for the Jail Escape NO they did not charge him with that. I think they should have. The police called me to let me know that he tried. Thats all there was to that. My kids are still going though this and will for a long time. I'm 1 of the mothers of the kids who's lives he messed up...
Funny that you mentioned that, I lost a case with a contractor adding on to my house. Everything was on paper, under contract. "Paid amount, per job (not per hour)". The contractor made changes with out asking me first, ran short of money, and took money from my account that he shouldn't have; and between who I THOUGHT was a attorney, for me, and the contractors attorney along with strange looks and smiles I ended up loosing and paying more money to the contractor, for jobs he never even got started on. I beleive they all got together and celebrated afterwards (Friends? Money?). I was told by some people that this contractors' family has money, and that I was going to loose. But I figured it was all on paper, their was no way I was going to loose.
My attorney, or person I thought was a attorney instructed me to "Only say Yes or No" nothing more. I also asked her to "Tell the court" that the contractor took money out of my account that he should not have, and had something done about that, but she advise me not to bother with that. Much later I hear about the lady I thought was a attorney being arrested in the newspaper for Misrepresentation; "Acting as attorney". Go figure! You can not go around doing people wrong. God knows everything, and he will handle it one way or another. I still hurt over the case even though years have passed, because I know he should not have one that case, I should have gotten my money back he took for jobs he did not do nor finish. I have prayed over it, and turned it all over to God. He knows "ALL" things. TRUTH.
How about judge Rich letting a guy go that was up for 3 felony charges. Do you think
his lawyer and the judge are real good friends? Or is it that the DA just does not care to look a little deeper. There sure is
a ton of money going around Bedford Co.
If some of this stuff was done in Marshal co.
they would have to build 10 more jail houses.
I knew him and assisted him in transport of Patients at the Hospital many, many times..........I also knew his mother. He never seemed to be "that" type of a man. I always though of him to be kind and gentle towards the sick and elderely. He had a funny sence of humor and was always very charming, I thought...I still can't believe all the accusations are true!!! I'm kind of hoping that this is one huge mistake. I guess you really can't judge a book by it's cover, can you?
he got busted and he will do the time, so that is good. the sad thing is those he effected, that will take alot of time for them.
Looks like you can pretty well get away with anything in Bedford County if you know the right people. Look at the Com Center and no one does anything about it, they just give the Director a bigger raise. You just have to wonder what goes on behind locked doors?????
I agree that it is so hard to believe that someone that has been accused of so many crimes against children and has also abused his position as an EMT. It is time that people are going to have to ban together to get things done.
Most of the time, people don't want any part of it unless if personally effect them.
You know if bedford co had done something the first time someone turned him in there wouldnt have been all these other children hurt.He was turned in about 10 yrs back and bedford co covered it up!!!!Thats the kind of people we have running our C.O.Thats part of the good ol boy club!!!!!!!The poor child he raped all those yrs ago never got any justice!!!Why didnt Bedford C.O do something 10 yrs ago when he was reported?I blame the police dpt and sheriffs dpt for not doing nothing back then for all these other kids getting hurt!!!!!Their just as guilty as he is for not doing anything when they knew about it!!!
It is so hard for me to believe that someone that has been accused of so many crimes against children and has also abused his position as an EMT would only be sentenced to 35 years. What about the lives that have been disrupted by his actions? Are they not worth more than this small amount of time? Drug dealers get more time! Heck, habitual motor vehicle offenders get more time based on the ratio of number of offenses to the time they are sentenced! This man, although seems very personable when speaking to him obviously has more than a few screws loose! Let's not forget his attempt at jail escape, with the help of his mother. Hopefully, he has not been charged for that yet. Felony jail escape should warrant another chunk be added to his minimal sentencing for such despicable crimes on our young. This a PRIME example of someone abusing their position of authority and deserves much more than 35 years and a lost license. Whatever happened to an "eye for an eye"? Punishment should fit the crime!
Mr Odem has decided to file for an appeal of some sort. Those of you that care need to keep a close eye on this situation this person has some powerful friends.
Just goes to show be VERY careful who you trust as an adult and who you let your children associate with. EMT... Youth leader in church..Your next door neighbor...!!!Don't get me wrong they are all NOT bad, but you have to be so careful these days. I'm just SOOOOOOOOO glad he is locked up for a long time. At least my child will be grown by the time he is allowed to walk the streets again. He is a sick man
What a FREAK! Ever been to "NeverLand Ranch" at Michael Jacksons?