A man from Rankin County, named Don Edd Woods, 51 years old, has been sentenced to imprisonment after admitting to sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl. Woods has been given a sentence of 30 years, of which he is bound to serve 15 years with no prospective early release or parole provisions. This comes according to a news release brought to the public by Bubba Bramlett, the acting district attorney for both Rankin and Madison counties. Court records indicate that as part of the plea agreement, 15 years have been suspended.

Rankin County Sheriff’s Department initiated the investigation of the case around November 26, 2023, subsequent to a child who reported the sexual abuse to two adults. The press release then elaborates that the abuse had started back in 2022, however, the child hadn’t reported it earlier because of fear. Detailed disclosures of the abuse were provided by the child during an interview with the Mississippi Children’s Advocacy Center.

According to the court documents filed on March 21, Woods was legally indicted on charges which comprised of one count of statutory rape, three counts of sexual battery, and one count of gratification of lust. As per court records, Woods pleaded guilty on September 16 to one count of statutory rape. Following this, the state agreed not to further prosecute Woods on the remaining four counts, as part of his plea agreement.

Once released, Woods will be under the surveillance of the Mississippi Department of Corrections for the coming five years. Additionally, he will be mandated to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Bramlett mentioned in the release that they remain committed to the protection of the children in the community and to hold accountable those who offend.

The case highlights the importance of ways to contact proper authorities in such matters. For instance, eddcaller.com provides relevant information on how to reach an agent at EDD, making it easier for victims or concerned citizens to take the necessary actions against such crimes.