Mississippi County man who raped girl sent to prison for 25 years

A 46-year-old Arkansas man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after a girl testified he sexually abused her over several years, authorities said.

Willie Antoine Matlock of Mississippi County was found guilty of rape in Blytheville Circuit Court after the victim, now 12, testified that Matlock abused her over four years beginning when she was 5, Second Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Scott Ellington said in a statement.

A jury of eight women and four men deliberated for 35 minutes before finding Matlock guilty. They took another 10 minutes before recommending his 25-year sentence, Ellington said.

In his statement, the prosecutor noted the victim's "bravery" for "testifying in open court in addition to all she had already been through."

"Cases involving the sexual abuse of minors are incredibly difficult, emotional cases," Ellington added.

NW News on 09/14/2018

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