A 61-year-old Giles County man will spend six decades behind bars after a jury convicted him of multiple offenses involving a child. The sentence closes a case that took a four-day trial and ended with six felony convictions.
The sentence was reported Monday by Fox 17, which identified the defendant as Steven Joe Townsend. Townsend was convicted of four counts of rape of a child, one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child and one count of incest, then sentenced to 60 years in prison.
According to the report, the 22nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office said Townsend will serve 100% of the sentence. That means he would be approximately 120 years old before becoming eligible for release, based on the information provided by prosecutors.
The conviction followed a four-day Giles County trial, with a jury finding Townsend guilty in May, WKSR reported. The outlet said Assistant District Attorneys Becky Sue Parsons and Jenni Smith handled the prosecution, while TBI Special Agent Shane Hunter served as the lead investigator.
DNA Evidence Featured During Giles County Trial
The case also included DNA evidence developed by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, with an analyst from Cybergenetics testifying about the results, according to Cybergenetics. The company said its software separated a limited DNA mixture and produced statistical matches involving Townsend and the victim.
District Attorney Brent Cooper thanked those involved in the prosecution and specifically recognized the victim’s courage and patience throughout the legal process, Fox 17 reported. The case now moves from the courtroom to the long prison term outlined by prosecutors.
