North Alabama man convicted of child rape, incest

North Alabama man convicted of child rape, incest

A north Alabama man was convicted Friday of raping a child under 12, incest and other offenses after a Marshall County jury deliberated for only 40 minutes, prosecutors said.

Lawson James Lewis Miller, Sr., 44, of Guntersville is set to be sentenced July 31, at which time prosecutors will request a life sentence without the possibility of parole for Miller, said the Marshall County District Attorney’s Office.

After a three-day trial, the Marshall County jury found Miller sexually abused a family member for nearly two years and beginning before the victim was 12 years old.

“We are so proud of the victim for having the courage to face this individual and ensure that he is held accountable for his crimes. It is only fitting that today’s verdict was returned during National Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month,” said Marshall County DA Jennifer Bray. “I’m thankful for all my staff’s hard work and dedication to justice this week – this was undoubtedly a team effort. We plan to ask Judge Abel for the maximum sentence.”

The jury convicted Miller of first-degree rape of a child less than 12, first-degree rape by forcible compulsion and incest after 40 minutes of deliberations, the DA’s office said.

“We appreciate the jury’s work this week on what was an extremely difficult case to hear, and I truly admire the bravery of the victim,” said Assistant DA Adam Culbert, who prosecuted the case along with Bray.