A Lincoln County man has been sentenced to 360 years in prison.
According to a release from 14th Circuit Court District Attorney Brendon Adams, Robert Earl Sanders, 53, was found guilty of 12 counts of sexual battery on Wednesday.
The charges stemmed from an investigation in which a 22-year-old victim came forward to say she’d been molested by Sanders for the last 12 years. The jury heard her testimony and returned a guilty verdict.
Judge Michael Taylor sentenced Sanders to 360 years, with 350 to be served day for day.
“We continue to have young people come forward and describe the years of abuse they’ve been subjected to,” Adams said. “Too many times they feel as if no one will believe them or listen to them. (Assistant DAs) Joey (Norton) and Steven (Waldrup) did an outstanding job and worked tirelessly to get justice for this young lady and hold Sanders accountable for his actions. I’m proud of my team and how brave this young lady was in coming forward to share her story.”
Adams also thanked Investigator Brian Boyd, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, DA’s investigators Davis Haygood and Kailyn Watts, and Victim Assistance Coordinator Melenie Greene.
