A Deatsville man who used to teach Sunday school will spend the rest of his life in prison for his second child sex abuse conviction.
Leon Albert Prince, 78, was found guilty Wednesday of sexually abusing a child less than 12 years old. Thursday morning, Circuit Judge Bill Lewis sentenced him to 99 years in state prison.
Elmore County Chief Deputy District Attorney C.J. Robinson said Prince asked the court for leniency, saying he is a veteran with only a few months to live due to his deteriorating health.
“I do hate that he has a terminal illness. I don’t wish that on anyone. But you still got to answer for what you’ve done,” Robinson said.
The conviction stems from an incident that happened sometime in 2010 or 2011. Prosecutors say the victim did not report it until recently, which led to an indictment in January.
At the time, Prince was out of prison from a 1991 conviction on what was at the time called carnal knowledge of a child under 12. He had served 15 years of a 30-year sentence.
The victim in that case, who has spoken publicly, said Prince “raped and molested and tortured” her in 1972 when she was 7 years old. She came forward 20 years later and testified against Prince in court.
The 1991 trial sparked national attention and brought out others who said Prince abused them, although Allison Black Cornelius was the only one who sought charges until this year.
www.wsfa.com
Leon Albert Prince, 78, was found guilty Wednesday of sexually abusing a child less than 12 years old. Thursday morning, Circuit Judge Bill Lewis sentenced him to 99 years in state prison.
Elmore County Chief Deputy District Attorney C.J. Robinson said Prince asked the court for leniency, saying he is a veteran with only a few months to live due to his deteriorating health.
“I do hate that he has a terminal illness. I don’t wish that on anyone. But you still got to answer for what you’ve done,” Robinson said.
The conviction stems from an incident that happened sometime in 2010 or 2011. Prosecutors say the victim did not report it until recently, which led to an indictment in January.
At the time, Prince was out of prison from a 1991 conviction on what was at the time called carnal knowledge of a child under 12. He had served 15 years of a 30-year sentence.
The victim in that case, who has spoken publicly, said Prince “raped and molested and tortured” her in 1972 when she was 7 years old. She came forward 20 years later and testified against Prince in court.
The 1991 trial sparked national attention and brought out others who said Prince abused them, although Allison Black Cornelius was the only one who sought charges until this year.
Former Sunday school teacher gets 99 years for child sex abuse
Leon Albert Prince was found guilty of sexually abusing a child less than 12 years old.
