By By Marianne Todd/The Meridian Star
March 28, 2001
A 50-year-old Lauderdale County man will serve no jail time after pleading guilty Tuesday to lustful touching of a child.
Circuit Judge Larry Roberts accepted Tom Monroe Radcliffe Jr.'s plea and sentenced Radcliffe to 15 years imprisonment with 15 years suspended and five years probation. The plea agreement was negotiated with attorneys from the Lauderdale County District Attorney's Office.
As part of the plea arrangement, Radcliffe must undergo mandatory counseling and refrain from having contact with the victim or his family.
Radcliffe, of Lauderdale-Toomsuba Road, was originally indicted in July for sexual battery in connection with an attack on a 12-year-old boy in March 2000. Radcliffe pleaded guilty to the lesser included charge of lustful touching.
In his petition to enter a plea of guilty, filed Tuesday, Radcliffe said he maintains his innocence, but made the plea bargain because he feared evidence presented during a trial could lead to his conviction.
Marianne Todd is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail her at mtodd@themeridianstar.com.