BONIFAY – A man found guilty of sexually abusing a minor is facing up to 30 years in prison at his Sept. 1 sentencing, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.
A jury took about 25 minutes Tuesday to find Vu Huy Huynh, 34, a Dothan, Ala. native, guilty as charged of Lewd or Lascivious Battery on a Minor and Unlawful Sexual Activity with Certain Minors. Circuit Court Judge Russell S. Roberts set sentencing for Sept. 1.
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Holmes County Chief Prosecutor Ben Keown and Prosecutor Lawrence Gill called four witnesses and presented evidence proving to jurors that the defendant began a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old when he was 30 years old and continued it for two and a half years.
Evidence at trial showed that 6 months after the relationship ended, the juvenile confided in someone who also knew the defendant and the victim was encouraged to report the crime.
The Bonifay Police Department began its investigation in late 2021 and it led to the defendant’s arrest in January, 2022.
Basford thanked the Bonifay Police Department for its hard work on this case. The State Attorney’s Office would also like to thank the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center for their diligence and assistance in the investigation of the case and all witnesses who came forward to help find justice for the victim.
For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.