AL man sentenced to life in prison in sex abuse case

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

ANNISTON, Ala. - A northeast Alabama man has been sentenced to three life prison terms without the possibility of parole in the rape, kidnapping and sexual abuse of a 4-year-old girl in 2013.

The Anniston Star reports that Calhoun County Circuit Judge Debra Jones on Monday handed down the sentence for 29-year-old Raleigh Steven Rowan of Piedmont.

Jones also sentenced Rowan to 99 years for kidnapping the girl and 20 years for sexual abuse of a child younger than 12.

Rowan told the court during his March trial that he abducted the victim from her Piedmont home on Feb. 5, 2013. Prosecutors told the jury during the trial that the girl suffered bite marks, scrapes and bruises all over her body. Investigators found DNA evidence that linked Rowan to the victim.