PARAGOULD – Second Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Scott Ellington announced that a Greene County Circuit Court jury convicted a Paragould man with four counts of rape and sentenced him to 40 years for each count.
The seven-woman, five-man jury took only 25 minutes to return guilty verdicts against David D. Price, 41, Wednesday, Ellington said. Police said Price sexually assaulted an 11-year-old girl four times between March 1, 2016, and Aug. 31, 2017. The offenses were reported to the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline. Lt. Rhonda Thomas, a detective with the Paragould Police Department investigated the offenses.
Jurors also took about 30 minutes to recommend the four 40-year sentences, Ellington said.
Circuit Judge Barbara Halsey followed the jury’s recommendation and sentenced Price to 40 years for the separate counts, Ellington said.
“I appreciate the hard work and dedication of Detective Lt. Rhonda Thomas and prosecutors Robert Thompson and Adam Butler in bringing this very difficult case to the jury and obtaining justice for the victim and her family,” Ellington said. “It’s been made clear time after time that the people of Greene County will not tolerate the sexual abuse of children.”
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