WELLFORD TEEN RECEIVES 15-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR CHILD SEX ASSAULT

A Wellford teen received a 15-year prison sentence today after he admitted to sexually assaulting a 5-year-old boy.

Javonn J. Brown, 17, pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct on a minor. The victim’s mother reported the crime to the Sheriff’s Office on April 25, 2008. She contacted deputies after her son disclosed the sexual activity. The victim knew Brown as an acquaintance.

The victim disclosed the details of crime again during a forensic examination at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Spartanburg.

A committee of police officers from city, county, and state agencies nominated and named the Cherokee County winner. The finalists for the award – Matt Gordon of the Blacksburg Police Department; Ron Ramsey of the Gaffney Police Department, Christy Poole of the Gaffney Police Department and Trooper Bo Caughmann of the S.C. Highway Patrol were recognized at the banquet. Sheriff’s Deputy Ronnie Painter was also recognized with a perseverance award for his efforts to return to duty after being critically injured in a car wreck in 2006. Painter is the first recipient of an award named in his honor. The Painter Award will be given to other deserving officers in the future.

Brown, who confessed to the crime during a police interview, will serve 85 percent of the prison sentence before he is eligible for release. He will also have his name added to the Sex Offender Registry.