Child sex crimes against 16-year-old Indiana man against girl, Sept

A 16-year-old Indiana man has been sentenced to 64 years in prison on charges of molesting and killing a 6-year-old girl in the woods near her home in 2021.

On Friday morning, Judge Jeffrey Sanford sentenced 16-year-old Anthony Hutchens to 64 years in prison after being convicted of heinous crimes. Sanford sentenced Hutchens to nine years in prison for allegedly molesting the little girl and 55 years for the murder of 6-year-old Grace Ross. Hutchens will also have to register as a sex offender once he’s released from prison.

Sanford told in the courtroom, “I can only speculate how sad Grace’s family feels” and “I can imagine Mr. Hutchens’ mother feeling very alone in the courtroom.”

The judge added, “No matter what verdict I give today, it’s not going to ease everyone’s pain and it won’t bring Grace back.”

Jeff Kimmell, defense attorney for Anthony Hutchens, said in the courtroom: “People change, especially young people, and people are rehabilitated, so it was the right decision because that shouldn’t just be completed while that kid was that particular age. “

Kimmell added: “Rather than make a decision today and sentence him to over 60 years in prison, a decision that could never be reversed, he sentenced him to the Department of Youth Services, which doesn’t necessarily mean Anthony will be too.” be released at a certain point in time, but it offers him the opportunity to receive treatment and services and the judge to review the sentence at various points in the future.

Grace’s mother, Michelle Ross, announced: “My whole world flipped on its own axis that day. For a long time all I could see was this picture of her lying in the woods.”

After her family reported her missing, Grace Ross was found dead around 6:30 p.m. on March 12, 2021. The young girl was found in a wooded area. The autopsy report concluded that Grace died of homicide by asphyxiation.

Hutchens is a minor and is reportedly set to be held in a juvenile detention center for the next few years.

Hutchens was 14 when he allegedly committed the brutal molestation and murder of the young girl. The defense argued Hutchens had the viability of an 11-year-old.

The South Bend Grandstand reported: “Once Anthony turns 18, Sanford Youth Facility will send out a report on Anthony’s time there. Sanford will then decide whether to have Anthony remain in juvenile facility until his 21st birthday to have Anthony sentenced to adult facility to put him in community corrections or have him relieved of his sentence.”

Det said Wiley WSB TV“Professionally, every case counts. Every sacrifice counts. But personally I wanted to see that we found the right answer, not just one answer.

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16-year-old man sentenced to 64 years for killing and molesting a 6-year-old girl from northern Indianawww.youtube.com