By Lisa Marchesoni- July 14, 2008 - 2:28 PM
Posted: Monday, July 14, 2008 2:43 pm

Defendant Oscar Terry Brazzell confers with attorneys Terry Fann and Ben Parsley before his preliminary hearing on charges of rape and sexual battery by an authority figure.

A retired man giving a 17-year-old a laser treatment for her back was accused of penetrating her sexually with his fingers and rubbing her breasts June 13, the girl testified Monday.

Defendant Oscar Terry Brazzell, 59, of Red Jacket Trace was charged with rape and sexual battery by an authority figure.

During his hearing, the girl testified defendant Brazzell told her he was a retired chiropractor after she met him in January at Sonic restaurant where she worked and he visited daily as a customer. He invited her for a treatment at Elite Bracing after business hours on North University Street.

After putting on a gown, the girl described how Brazzell rubbed her breasts and buttocks with Lubriderm lotion before he “put his fingers up there. … I’m positive he did that.”

After the hearing, General Sessions Court Judge Ben McFarlin transferred the two felony charges to the September term of the Rutherford County grand jury.

Assistant District Attorney Laural Hemenway asked the girl a series of questions about the treatment and why she went to the office with Brazzell.

“I just thought I could trust him,” the girl said. “It was just stupid on my part because I thought I could trust him.”

After the treatment, the girl said Brazzell told her other treatments “would be like that if I wanted it to be.”

Defense attorney Terry Fann asked her if she told Brazzell she was 18.

The girl said she told him she was going to be 18 soon.

Other Sonic employees told her he treated them with lasers and massage but she never checked to see if he was actually a chiropractor. She didn’t see a receptionist or fill out insurance forms the day she went to the business.

“He told me afterwards all he wanted from this whole thing was a hug and a kiss,” the girl said. “I gave him a hug.”

Fann asked if she knew Brazzell was paralyzed from the waist down.

The girl answered she did know because they discussed it. She always saw him in a wheelchair and had never seen him walk.

Fann asked if she knew Brazzell left the doors unlocked.

“I felt threatened because what am I to do with a man and me inside a house, even if he was in wheelchair,” the girl said.

Afterward, she was shocked and scared so she didn’t notify police for three days until her boyfriend told her to report what happened.

Fann asked if Brazzell showed any signs of sexual arousal or sexual gratification.

She replied he did not.

Fann called arresting Detective Tommy Roberts to testify for the defense.

Brazzell gave two inconsistent statements about who took the girl’s panties off, the detective said.

Roberts testified he was still investigating Brazzell to determine if he was certified to use the laser equipment. He found Brazzell was a former physician’s assistant whose license lapsed in 2003.

The detective did not obtain medical evidence to support the girl’s accusations because several days had elapsed before she reported what happened.

McFarlin said the grand jury is expected to consider the case in September. Brazzell remains free on bond.