Etowah County Man Sentenced to 30 Years on Rape Charges

WAAY
May 31, 2012

http://www.waaytv.com/news/local/story/Etowah-County-man-sentenced-to-30-years-on-Rape/3D3taa5rYkWt2Q0ibgoPdw.cspx


GADSDEN, Ala. (WAAY) - An Etowah County man has been sentenced to 110 years in prison after being convicted on Rape and Sexual Abuse charges last month.

61 year old Thomas Russell Reilly received thirty years imprisonment on the charge of Rape in the First Degree, and twenty years as to each of the four charges of Sexual Abuse.

The sentence was handed down Wednesday by Judge Allen Millican.

During the trial, witnesses indicated that Reilly allowed young girls to spend the night with him, then took them to the Tabernacle Church the next day. The girls were between the ages of 5-10 at the time. During the sleepovers, the girls said he touched them inappropriately. One of the girls claimed she had sexual intercourse with Reilly when she was only 7 years old.

During sentencing, Millican had choice words for several local supporters of Reilly, who had complained about the handling of the case : “Ladies and gentlemen, I notice there are a lot of folks here this morning that came and watched this trial, and I received some mail from some of the elders in the church that watched this trial." Millican said. "Some of the mail made reference to an overzealous district attorney and the fact that if they were on the jury they would find reasonable doubt.”

Quoting Matthew 22:21, the judge said, “I am here to tell you that I heard a wise man once say, ‘Render unto Caesar those things that are Caesar’s and unto God those things that are God’s.’ I pray about my cases, every one I have to try and rule about. I don’t appreciate somebody trying to second guess me on something like that and sending me stuff from the House of the Lord. Ya’ll need to tend to your business, and I’ll tend to mine.”

District Attorney Jimmie Harp indicated that he supported Judge Millican’s statements to those who were present in the audience on behalf of the Defendant. “These are hard cases and emotions run high. Judge Millican is an exceptional judge who works very hard to make sure that the cases that are before him are conducted in a manner that is fair to both sides throughout the process. I believe that a fair trial was had in this case. Our office will continue to zealously prosecute crimes against children.”