A 69-year-old man was sentenced in Mississippi court to life in prison plus 15 years following his September conviction for sexual battery of a victim under 14 and molestation.

Sanders received a life sentence in a Warren County courtroom for the sexual battery conviction and an additional 15 years for molestation.

The case stems from a 2015 incident in Warren County when the victim, her mother, and her siblings were living with Sanders. The victim, now 17, testified in court in September about the assault, which occurred when she was just eight years old.

During the trial, Assistant District Attorney Branan Southerland emphasized that the victim’s testimony remained consistent with her statements during a 2021 investigation. He highlighted that in 95% of sexual assault cases, no physical evidence is available. Defense attorney Eugene Perrier argued that the case hinged solely on the victim’s testimony, which he claimed was not enough for a conviction.

At sentencing, Southerland called for a life sentence for the sexual battery conviction and the maximum 30 years for molestation. Perrier countered by asserting Sanders’ innocence and cited his client’s poor health, noting Sanders had suffered a stroke and now uses a walker.

Before delivering the sentence, Circuit Court Judge Toni Terrett acknowledged concerns about Sanders’ health but affirmed that the victim’s statements were found credible, leading to the life-plus-15-year sentence.