Mayo gets 5 years in jail for sodomy
Published 11:56 pm Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Circuit Judge Ashley McKathan Tuesday sentenced Frank Paul Mayo Jr. to five years in prison and 20 years probation.
Last month, Mayo was found guilty of first-degree sodomy of a minor, who came forward five years after the abuse occurred.
“I am glad this victim has received the justice she deserves,” assistant district attorney Grace Jeter said. “Crimes of sex abuse leave the child victims with emotional scars and I appreciate Judge McKathan for telling child molestors that child molestation is a crime that will not be tolerated and ignored, but will be dealt with harshly.
When Mayo was found guilty in March, it was the second time a jury had heard his case. Last June, his first trial ended with a hung jury.
His victim testified in the March trial.
Jeter said this case underscores the need for children and other victims of abuse to hear the message that they need to talk when something happens to them.
“It was five years after it happened when the victim disclosed this situation,” Jeter said. “We’ve got to teach kids that you’ve got to tell as soon as you can. It doesn’t go away and you don’t forget about it.”