It took just over an hour Friday for a seven-man, five-woman jury to find Jon Michael Layer,43, guilty of all four charges of aggravated sexual assault against a young girl.
It took less than 30 minutes for that same jury to condemn him to four sentences of life in prison.
Before the jury deliberated sentencing, the state brought into evidence a 1987 charge of indecent behavior with a juvenile that Layer faced when he inappropriately touched a 6-year-old girl in Louisiana in 1986.Layer’s attorney, Tom Allensworth, suggested rehabilitation for his client and as small a sentence as possible, saying Layer has learned a lot from the experience.
Prosecutor Ben Hoover told the jury Layer deserved the maximum and urged jurors not show him any mercy.
“He didn’t show any mercy on (the victim) when he was molesting her over and over again,” he said. “He’s a repeat sex offender and you need to consider that in your deliberations.”
Less than 30 minutes after the jury retired to determine punishment, they returned with four life sentences. Eighty Ninth District Judge Mark Price said he felt the jury’s judgment was appropriate and made the sentences consecutive, meaning they must be served one after the other, rather than all at the same time.
Attorneys said Layer would not be eligible for parole for 120 years.
“You all arrived at the right verdict,” Price said to jurors. And to Layer: “You’ve destroyed a life, destroyed a family...you may take him away.”
"25% of all sex offenders re-offend within 15 years"
.........Sarah Tofte
.........Sarah Tofte
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