Tammy Curtis, Publisher

A Sharp County jury who convicted Terry “Woodstock” Long of 14 counts of rape, Class Y felonies on Nov. 13 in Sharp County Circuit Court. Each charge carries a mandatory sentence of 25 to 40 years, or life, returned the sentence of 14 -40- year sentences to run consecutively. This means that the 64-year-old Long will never see the outside of a prison cell as he will serve the rest of his life with a total sentence of 560 years. Long’s victim was 11 years old and the crimes ocurred over a year and a few months time frame.

Third Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Devon Holder did a phenomenal job of prosecuting the case that ultimately led to Long’s conviction. Based on Holder’s presentation of evidence and witness testimony, it only took an hour or deliberation for the eight woman, four man jury to decide on conviction. .

In less than 20 minutes, the jury returned the maximum sentence on each count. Under Holden‘s advisement the jury was asked to hand down the maximum sentence and solidify the community’s faith in the prosecution of child sex crimes in Sharp County based on several factors, including the child’s age.

Circuit Judge Rob Ratton upheld the jury’s decision and agreed with their judgment of the maximum sentence. Raton also signed a post conviction order of protection forbidding any contact by Long with the victim, who is now 13 years old.

Several witnesses took the stand in the day and a half trial, including for the state – the victim, her mother, a second victim and her parents, Tony Hill, an Arkansas State Police investigator who examined the content of the victim’s cell phone, as well as Sharp County Sheriff’s Department Leiutenant Greg Stewart, who worked the case. Long was the single witness for the defense. Notably not present was his wife, Nancy and son or any other family member of friend. Long was represented by public defender. R.T. Starken.

In the photo Sharp County Sheriff Shane Russell, Lieutenant Bryce Trivitt and Chief Deputy Kevin “Bart” Simpson walk Long from the courtroom back to the jail where he will be held until he is sent to the Arkansas Department of Corrections. Meanwhile Lt. Stewart was visiting with the victim’s family who expressed their gratitude to him for seeing the case through and working hard to ensure a prosectution and conviction.

The victim’s family shed tears of joy as the maximum sentence was handed down for the child sex offender. Long has several other child rape cases with other victims that are upcoming in both Sharp and Fulton county.

We will have a full story on the trial in the Nov. 20 edition of the SRC.