06/18/2026
Great work by our Criminal Investigations Division and the District Attorney’s who’ve been working tirelessly along with our detectives to ensure the victims get closure.
JURY CONVICTS HENDERSONVILLE WOMAN OF EXPOSING CHILDREN TO THE MAN WHO SEXUALLY MOLESTED THEM
Today, following a 3-day jury trial in Sumner County Criminal Court, Assistant District Attorneys Nathan Nichols and Tara Wyllie secured aggravated child neglect convictions against a Hendersonville woman who exposed two children left in her care to a man she knew was a child sexual abuser, resulting in the eventual sexual abuse of both children.
During the trial, Generals Nichols and Wyllie presented evidence that, in 2006, Stacy Dawn Alessio, age 46 of Hendersonville, walked in on her then-husband, Christopher Howard Alessio, sexually abusing a child who was living in the couple's White House, Tennessee home. Rather than intervening or reporting Christopher Alessio's activities, Stacy Alessio threw the child out of her home and, when the child reported the abuse to her family sometime later, failed to confirm that the victim's allegations were true.
While Stacy and Christopher Alessio were going through a divorce in 2013, Stacy Alessio sent a Facebook message to the 2006 victim, apologizing for not protecting her and acknowledging the accusations made by the victim were true.
In 2017, Stacy Alessio and the 2006 victim engaged in another conversation on Facebook during which Stacy Alessio provided more detail about what she witnessed Christopher Alessio doing to the 2006 victim and eventually told the victim that her presence in their home was "like waiving meat in front of a hungry carnivore" and that Stacy Alessio knew Christopher Alessio might be "dumb enough to take it."
By 2022, Stacy and Christopher Alessio had relocated to Hendersonville and were cohabitating, but never remarried. During this time, Stacy and Christopher Alessio were active in their neighborhood, often hosting parties and sleepovers in their home for pre-teen girls. Stacy Alessio was also helping to run a dance team associated with a local middle school and frequently held dance team activities and sleepovers at the couple's home. Though the parents who sent their children to the home assumed they were being cared for by Stacy Alessio, it was actually Christopher Alessio who was primarily tending to the children during the sleepovers. On multiple occasions during the Summer of 2022, Christopher Alessio r***d and sexually molested two of the children who were spending the night in the couple's home, which resulted in his October 2022 arrest after one of the victims disclosed what he did to her. After Christopher Alessio's arrest, his 2006 victim came forward and shared Stacy Alessio's messages with law enforcement. Detective Jason Steffy of the Hendersonville PD arrested Stacy Alessio in January 2023 after she was indicted by the Sumner County Grand Jury.
In 2025, a jury convicted Christopher Alessio of more than 25 felony counts related to the sexual abuse of six children, including his 2006 victim. He was later sentenced to serve 162 years in prison, without the possibility of parole or early release, by Criminal Court Judge Dee David Gay.
Today, the Jury found Stacy Alessio guilty as charged of two counts of aggravated child neglect and two counts of child neglect. Judge Gay immediately revoked her bond and set her sentencing hearing for August 28, 2026. She faces up to 24 years in prison. Under Tennessee law, sentences for aggravated child neglect are served without the possibility of probation, parole, or early release.
Stacy Alessio's conviction would not have been possible without the bravery and strength of the many victims who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of Christopher Alessio. We also wish to recognize the excellent investigative work the Hendersonville and White House Police Departments' Criminal Investigations Divisions and Detectives Jason Steffy and Dan Hunter. We are also very appreciative of the contributions made to this prosecution by Ashley's Place, OurKids Clinic, the Tennessee Department of Children's Services, Victim-Witness Coordinators Sally Ann Pirtle and Jennifer Woodard and legal secretaries Brittany Nale and Maggie Robbins.
This case is a tragic example of why reporting known or suspected child abuse is vital. After Stacy Alessio witnessed Christopher Alessio abuse his victim 2006, he went on to sexually assault and r**e at least five other children. Not only is it the law to report abuse, it is also a moral obligation and this office remains committed to protecting children by prosecuting those who harm them along with those who enable that harm.
