Man Convicted of Aggravated Rape that took place in a Smyrna, TN Home, Represents Himself in Appeal Apr 20, 2021 at 11:01 am by WGNS Photo of Elgene K. Porter (top right) A convict being held in a Tennessee Department of Corrections prison represented himself when filing an appeal to his case that stemmed from a conviction in a Rutherford County courtroom. In July of 2009, a Rutherford County Circuit Court jury convicted Elgene K. Porter on charges that included conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary, attempted aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated rape. Porter was sentenced to spend forty-two years behind bars, but claims that the sentence was illegal.