March 9, 2010

Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Garrett announced Tuesday that a jury, following a three-day trial, convicted Clevis Conn, 50, of Louisa, with three sex offenses that occurred during two assaults in 2008.

During the trial, the jury heard from the child describing the two events that occurred in 2008. The defense called on a psychologist in an effort to argue that custody concerns prompted the allegation as well as traumatic events in the child’s life.

The defendant’s wife and mother-in-law testified in his defense, but the defendant failed to take the stand. The jury did not find this testimony credible and after almost six hours of deliberations found the defendant guilty of all three counts.

At the sentencing phase of the trial, the jury learned that the defendant had been previously convicted of murder and sexual offenses to include another state's law, which is similar to Virginia's rape statute. It did not take long for the jury to return verdicts of the maximum sentences of life on the two more serious offenses, 15 out of a maximum 20 years on the aggravated sexual assault, and a $95,000 out of a maximum $100,000 fine.

The feelings of the jury were noted by their statement on each of the punishment forms, which read the sentences must “run consecutive without eligibility of parole.”

Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Ashley Davenport, who prosecuted this case with Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Rusty McGuire, stated “this was a very difficult case and we are pleased the jury made sure the defendant will not be able to hurt another child.”