Alabama man sentenced to four years in prison for sex with girl

Staff report

WARREN

Tommy R. Edwards, 41, of Attalla, Ala., was sentenced to four years in prison Wednesday for having sex with a 17-year-old girl at Motel 30, 1600 Motor Inn Drive in Liberty.

Edwards pleaded guilty before Judge W. Wyatt McKay of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to nine counts of sexual battery involving the girl. Another nine counts of rape involving the same offenses were dismissed in the plea agreement.

Diane Barber, assistant county prosecutor, said the plea was reached because it would have been difficult to prove the girl was raped with force or threat of force, which is necessary to support a rape conviction.

Edwards was charged in April after Liberty police were called to the hotel room where Edwards, the girl and a woman were staying. They investigated a fight between the 17-year-old and the woman, which the woman said regarded “inappropriate actions” involving the 17-year-old and Edwards, police said.