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Monster sentenced to record-breaking 438 years for over decade of sexual abuse against 6 children

Nypost · · 244 words · By Jared Downing
Child Protection criminal justice
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What to know about Child Protection

Monster sentenced to record-breaking 438 years for over decade of sexual abuse against 6 children A Tennessee sex predator was handed a record-breaking 438-year sentence on Tuesday for 13 years of horrific abuse against six different children.

Claims checked 9
Techniques found 2
Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center67%
Right33%

3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Monster sentenced to record-breaking 438 years for over decade of sexual abuse against 6 children A Tennessee sex predator was handed a record-breaking 438-year sentence on Tuesday for 13 years of horrific abuse against six different children.

Why it matters

Matthew Cody Ball, 36, was convicted in March of continuous sexual abuse of a child, nine counts of child rape, and various other sex crimes against six victims as young as 4.

Common ground

Ball, who was tried in Sumner County, TN, began his sick crime spree as early as 2011 and assaulted children in both Tennessee and Texas, according to prosecutors.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/04/14/us-news/monster-sentenced-to-record-breaking-438-y…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 90% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.
warning
Name Calling / Labeling 100% confidence
Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 9 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 4
check_circle Corroborated 4
help Insufficient Evidence 1
info
Claim 1: “Ball was ineligible for a formal life sentence or the death penalty due to “the time frame during which his offenses were committed,” Thomas added.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The specific legal reasoning regarding the time frame making him ineligible for a formal life sentence or death penalty is mentioned in the context of the case but not corroborated by a second independent source in the provided evidence.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — According to Christian traditions, he was also one of the four Evangelists as author of the Gospel of Matthew, and thus is also known as Matthew the Evangelist. The New Testament records that as an Ap…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_the_Apostle
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah. 17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from …
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+1&versi…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Read the Book of Matthew online. Scripture chapters verses with full summary, commentary meaning, and concordances for Bible study.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/matthew/
check_circle
Claim 2: “A Tennessee sex predator was handed a record-breaking 438-year sentence on Tuesday for 13 years of horrific abuse against six different children.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web search results confirm Matthew Cody Ball was sentenced to 438 years for abusing six children over a period of approximately 13 years.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Prosecutors said Ball’s crimes spanned roughly 13 years and occurred in multiple counties across Tennessee as well as in Texas. The case began in 2024 when a 10-year-old girl reported inappropriate to…
https://www.newschannel5.com/news/state/tennessee/sumner-cou…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Tennessee judge sentenced Matthew Cody Ball to 438 years without parole for sexually abusing six children over 13 years across multiple states starting in 2011.
https://dailycaller.com/2026/04/16/matthew-cody-ball-438-yea…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Matthew Cody Ball, sentenced to more than 400 years for years of sexual abuse.“During a forensic interview … the victim gave a graphic disclosure of sexual abuse carried out against her by Ball over a…
https://nypost.com/2026/04/14/us-news/monster-sentenced-to-r…
info
Claim 3: “During a forensic interview … the victim gave a graphic disclosure of sexual abuse carried out against her by Ball over a 6 year period, beginning when she was just 4 years old”
SINGLE SOURCE
The detail about the forensic interview and the 6-year period starting at age 4 is mentioned in the evidence, but not corroborated by a second independent source.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — VICTIM definition: 1. someone or something that has been hurt, damaged, or killed or has suffered, either because of…. Learn more.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/victim
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — VICTIM definition: a person who suffers from a destructive or injurious action or agency. See examples of victim used in a sentence.
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/victim
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — May 9, 2026 · The meaning of VICTIM is one that is acted on and usually adversely affected by a force or agent. How to use victim in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/victim
help
Claim 4: “The jury only deliberated for 20 minutes before delivering the guilty verdict, WSMV reported.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding the length of the jury's deliberation.
check_circle
Claim 5: “Matthew Cody Ball, 36, was convicted in March of continuous sexual abuse of a child, nine counts of child rape, and various other sex crimes against six victims as young as 4.”
CORROBORATED
Web search results confirm Ball, age 36, was convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child, nine counts of child rape, and other sex crimes involving six victims, with the youngest being 4.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Matthew Cody Ball Mugshot Tennessee Sex Offender Receives Record Breaking 438 Year Prison Sentence.Ball’s offenses dated back to 2011, according to investigators, who claim he raped children in Tennes…
https://www.usmagazine.com/crime-news/news/tennessee-sex-off…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Matthew Cody Ball, 36, was found guilty of continuous sexual abuse of a child, nine counts of child rape, one count of rape, two counts of aggravated sexual battery, and one count of statutory rape by…
https://fox17.com/news/local/hendersonville-man-found-guilty…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — A man claims he had no idea his ex-wife was making her children sick. His son says he doesn’t understand how his father had no idea he was being abused.Dr. P...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzksws6UgH0
check_circle
Claim 6: “Ball, who was tried in Sumner County, TN, began his sick crime spree as early as 2011 and assaulted children in both Tennessee and Texas, according to prosecutors.”
CORROBORATED
Evidence confirms the trial took place in Sumner County, TN, and that the crimes began in 2011 and occurred in both Tennessee and Texas.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Matthew Cody Ball, 36, was convicted of continuous sexual abuse of a child, nine counts of rape of a child, aggravated sexual battery, rape, and statutory rape by an authority figure. His youngest vic…
https://www.gbnews.com/news/us/tennessee-paedophile-438-year…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — A Tennessee sex offender who sexually assaulted six kids was sentenced to 438 years in prison this week, which is a record-breaking term.Ball’s offenses dated back to 2011, according to investigators,…
https://www.usmagazine.com/crime-news/news/tennessee-sex-off…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Both Gallatin PD and the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office are looking for Sweat, who they are considering “armed and dangerous.” Anyone who knows of Sweat’s whereabouts is asked not to make contact or a…
https://www.wvlt.tv/2026/05/11/gallatin-police-looking-armed…
check_circle
Claim 7: “The sicko was arrested in 2024 after a 10-year-old girl reported his inappropriate touching.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm the case began in 2024 after a 10-year-old girl reported inappropriate touching.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — According to Christian traditions, he was also one of the four Evangelists as author of the Gospel of Matthew, and thus is also known as Matthew the Evangelist. The New Testament records that as an Ap…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_the_Apostle
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah. 17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from …
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+1&versi…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Read the Book of Matthew online. Scripture chapters verses with full summary, commentary meaning, and concordances for Bible study.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/matthew/
info
Claim 8: “The sentence, which came without the possibility of parole, “is the longest, short of life without parole, which has been imposed in a child sexual abuse case in Sumner County history,” District Attorney Thomas Dean said”
SINGLE SOURCE
While the 438-year sentence is corroborated, the specific quote from District Attorney Thomas Dean regarding it being the longest in Sumner County history (short of life without parole) is not explicitly repeated across multiple independent sources in the provided evidence, though the sentence itself is widely reported.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Area codes 514, 438, and 263 are telephone area codes of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) for Montreal and most of its on-island suburbs, specifically the Island of Montreal and Île Perrot in …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_codes_514,_438,_and_263
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Where is area code 438? Area code 438 serves Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is an overlay for area code 514 and serves the same area.
https://www.allareacodes.com/438
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — § 438.208 Coordination and continuity of care. (a) Basic requirement — (1) General rule. Except as specified in paragraphs (a) (2) and (3) of this section, the State must ensure through its contracts,…
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-…
info
Claim 9: “Five additional victims came forward after the arrest.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The fact that five additional victims came forward after the arrest is mentioned in the context of the case, but not independently corroborated by multiple sources in the provided evidence.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — He has since been released after posting $25,000 bail. As the investigation has progressed, detectives have developed information leading them to believe there may be additional victims associated wit…
https://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/califo…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Dominique Pelicot, 71, bowed his head and cried in the dock in Avignon as his 45-year-old child told how she believed he had drugged her too, after police showed her photos of her lying unconscious on…
https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-13820855/Monster-Avig…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Merseyside police arrested 160 people after days of disturbances in Liverpool and Southport, but did not provide the Guardian with a number of prior domestic abuse reports because of prohibitive costs…
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jul/26/two-in-five-…
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.