CORNING – A Clay County Circuit Court jury convicted a former Corning man of rape of a victim who was under the age of 14 and sentenced him to 40 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction, Second Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Scott Ellington announced.
The six-man, six-woman jury found Christopher Shane Dillard, 46, of Paragould, guilty Thursday after deliberating for two hours. The jury then took 12 minutes to recommend the 40-year sentence, which Circuit Judge Cindy Thyer then imposed. The three-day trial was held in Corning.
Dillard was charged in 2017 with the of rape of a child that occurred in June 2011.
Clay County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Michael Trail prosecuted the case for the State of Arkansas.
“Ellington said he appreciate the hard work of Trail putting the case together and the jury’s attention and consideration of this matter.
I find it a little surreal that a rapist gets 40 yrs but a murderer only gets 19 yrs that’s Scott Ellington for you I guess. I wonder what he’s going to be like if he gets elected to be a judge?