Dallas County man sentenced to 65 years for rape of Perry County girl

A Dallas County man was sentenced on Friday to serve 65 years in prison for raping a child from Perry County.

Steve Harold Lawrence Jr. was sentenced in Perry County Court by Judge Don McMillan after a three-day trial prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney J. Wesley Kelly IV.

According to a release from the Perry County District Attorney’s Office, Lawrence was arrested on Sept. 14, 2017, and charged with first degree rape of a girl over several years.

The DA says Lawrence first initiated “inappropriate sexual contact” with the victim when she was young as 9 years old and forced sex on her at 11 that lasted several years.

“At the sentencing hearing, ADA Kelly emphasized the need to hold Lawrence accountable for his horrendous acts and to protect the citizens of Perry County and our state from child predators," the release said.

The judge gave Lawrence a sentence of 65 years in the Alabama Department of Corrections.

District Attorney Robert Turner Jr. said he admires “the courage of the victim in coming forward and applauds the Court for sending a strong message that the children of our state deserve to be protected and deserve to be safe as they are among our most vulnerable citizens.”

“The long-waited resolution of this horrific case sends a clear message that our office will prosecute child predators to the fullest extent of the law and will continue to fight for justice for every victim,” Turner said.