A Hendersonville child predator is now staring at what could amount to nearly 500 years behind bars after a jury convicted him of raping and sexually abusing multiple children. Matthew Cody Ball, 36, was found guilty Thursday at the end of a four-day trial, and jurors took roughly 20 minutes to reach their decision. Prosecutors say the abuse stretches back more than a decade and spans Davidson, Dickson, and Sumner counties, as well as Texas. Ball is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14.
Verdict and counts
Ball was convicted on continuous sexual abuse of a child, nine counts of rape of a child, rape, two counts of aggravated sexual battery, and statutory rape by an authority figure, according to WSMV. Prosecutors told jurors they had evidence tying him to crimes against four victims, and said that after his arrest, three more victims came forward, including one who is now an adult. If the court hands down the maximum punishment allowed on each count, Ball faces up to 492 years in prison with no possibility of probation, parole, or early release.
How the case unfolded
According to a May 2024 police press release, the investigation began after a 10-year-old girl told her mother on May 1, 2024, that Ball had touched her inappropriately. Hendersonville officers arrested him the next day at a Nashville motel. Those early reports, along with the public law-enforcement release, prompted other survivors to come forward, which widened the investigation and led to additional charges, as reported by Sumner County Source.
DA's statement
In a statement to WSMV, Sumner County District Attorney Thomas Dean praised the courage of the victims, the work of the Hendersonville Police Department, and the support from child-forensic services. He said his office will ask the judge to impose the toughest sentence the law allows. "Matthew Cody Ball’s conduct in this case was disgusting and outrageous," Dean said, adding that the impact of the abuse will follow the victims for years.
Local context
The case lands in a region where judges and prosecutors have recently backed extraordinarily long prison terms in child-sex prosecutions. In September 2025, another Hendersonville man, Christopher Howard Alessio, was ordered to serve 162 years after being convicted on multiple child-sex charges, with no chance of parole, local outlets reported. Prosecutors and victim-advocates say close coordination with child-advocacy groups such as Ashley’s Place and Our Kids Clinic is crucial for building cases that can withstand trial, as reported by WGNS.
What’s next
Ball is set to return to Sumner County Criminal Court on April 14 for sentencing, where prosecutors say they will push for the maximum punishment. Authorities have asked anyone with additional information related to Ball or the case to contact the Hendersonville Police Department.
