A Starkville man has been found guilty and sentenced after being accused of committing sexual battery on a child and knowingly exposing the victim to HIV.
James Sudduth pleaded guilty to the charge of sexual battery of a child under the age of 14 and was sentenced to 25 years in prison by Circuit Court Judge Jim Kitchens on Tuesday.
The Starkville Daily News first reported in January 2017 when Sudduth was arrested and charged. He was indicted on the sexual battery and exposure to HIV charges in June of 2017.
District Attorney Scott Colom said in a press release that Sudduth's case was “one of the worst sex crimes my office has prosecuted.”
“Thankfully, the child did not receive HIV, but the mere fact that Mr. Sudduth would commit such a heinous act on a child and risk such exposure required that he receive a long prison sentence,” Colom said.
According to Colom’s office, sexual battery is not eligible for parole pursuant to Mississippi law, meaning Sudduth will have to serve every day of the 25-year sentence.