PARAGOULD, Ark. — Second Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Sonia F. Hagood announced that John Lang, 33, was found guilty on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, of two counts of rape of a minor under the age of 14 and one count of sexual assault. Lang was sentenced to serve 70 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
Circuit Judge Pam Honeycutt followed the recommendations of a Greene County jury, sentencing Lang to a 70-year imprisonment term. Lang was also sentenced to an additional 20-year term for sexual assault and fined $15,000.
Greene County Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Wesley Watts, Bradley McBride, and Adam Butler prosecuted the case. During the trial, four minor victims testified that Lang had abused them over several years.
“We will never stop fighting to protect rape victims in Greene County and the entire Second Judicial District,” said Deputy Prosecutor Watts. “This verdict sends a loud and clear message to the community, and we thank the jury members for their service.”
Lang’s conviction stems from his arrest on June 14, 2023, by the Paragould Police Department. The case highlights the importance of thorough investigations.
“The minor victims displayed great bravery by testifying at trial,” Watts added. “This verdict is a direct result of their remarkable courage.”
In June 2023, the Arkansas Department of Human Services received a referral from the Paragould Police Department regarding four minor children—ages 9, 13, 15, and 16—who alleged Lang had sexually assaulted them.
“I want to thank our law enforcement partners and child advocates, especially Detective Sergeant Jacob Higdon of the Paragould Police Department and Investigator Jamie Moore of the Crimes Against Children Division of the Arkansas State Police, for their investigation, hard work, and support,” said Deputy Prosecutor Butler. “Their commitment to seeking justice for victims of child sexual abuse is extraordinary.”
press release
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