An Ooltewah woman is facing up to 20 years in prison after she pled guilty to making a video depicting her sexually abusing a child and another showing her sodomizing a dog.

District Judge Curtis Collier accepted the guilty plea from Teela Moore Hendrix. It was a slow affair as she was in tears throughout the plea. Ms. Hendrix, 34, was found to be in possession of the disturbing videos a short while after she tried to ram through a car containing her husband and her children.



Ms. Hendrix’s prison sentence could range from 5-20 years, with the ensuing probation lasting from five years to life. Ms. Hendrix may also be required to pay a fine.

Ms. Hendrix said she had visited a website that deals with abusing of children and animals. She said she traded the videos with others who visit the website. She said she met a man through the site who said he was sexually abusing his nine-month-old daughter. She said she traded videos with the man from North Carolina.

When asked about her mental state, Ms. Hendrix told jJdge Collier about her bipolar disorder, something she said she has dealt with since she was a teenager.

“I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 14, and have been on multiple medications since then and seen several psychologists,” said Ms. Hendrix.

She added, “When (my medication) works, I don’t have crying spells. I want to be outgoing, what I think a normal person would feel like.”



Ms. Hendrix will be sentenced on June 8.