Another sentencing yesterday in Franklin County District court. Fifty-one-year-old Timothy Blanton was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for at least 25 years under Jessica’s Law on a charge of aggravated indecent liberties with a child under the age of 14. He also must register as a sex offender for life and have electronic monitoring once he is paroled. The case stems from an arrest in May of 2023, when charges were brought against Blanton for actions taken between December 2022 and January 2023.
In a jury trial held in late August of this year, the jury found him guilty of the charge. His attorney did file a motion of departure, stating that this was Blanton’s only offense and that Jessica’s Law often applies to those who commit sexual intercourse multiple times. In this case it only involved fondling. They asked for a sentence of 55 to 61 months, however, the judge decided to invoke Jessica’s Law and impose the life sentence without the possibility of parole for 25 years.
