Greenville, MS— District Attorney W. Dewayne Richardson announced this week that John Polk (37) was convicted at trial on a multi-count indictment charging him with five (5) counts of Sexual Battery against a child under 14. Following a three-day trial before Judge Richard Smith in the Washington County Circuit Courtroom, the jury deliberated just over an hour before returning Guilty verdicts to all five charges against Polk.
During the trial, the minor child who alleged they had been sexually abused by Polk, testified bravely about the multiple years and multiple incidents of sexual assault- stemming from 2016. Expert witnesses Dr. Scott Benton and Stacey Carter with University Medical Center’s Children Safe Center testified regarding expected physical findings in pediatric sexual abuse cases, as well as the ways in which sexually abused children usually disclose their abuse.
During the State’s closing arguments, trial attorneys M. Austin Frye and Takiyah H. Perkins reiterated to the jury that the case was all about the minor victim and what they had endured- asking the jury to deliver not only five guilty verdicts, but also the justice that the minor victim had deserved for so long.
The District Attorney’s Office extends its appreciation to the Greenville Police Department for beginning the process of investigating the minor victim’s allegations, including gathering records and ensuring the case was ready for presentation to a Grand Jury. Prosecuting attorney, Austin Frye, also expressed his gratitude for the minor victim’s family in never losing hope that a successful prosecution would come, adding that “pediatric sexual abuse cases that involve late reporting, sequential disclosure and lack in physical evidence are extremely difficult to prosecute, and it’s not unusual for victims and their families to be frustrated by the process – in this case, the victim’s family was not only supportive, but have ensured that this child’s life has been put back together after the horrible things they endured – on behalf of the DA’s Office, I hope that this win helps bring some semblance of closure and peace to a child who had to wait years to see their abuser finally brought to justice.”
The District Attorney’s Office would also like to thank those men and women who appeared, and were willing to serve, as jurors in this case – far too often, lack of participation by those citizens summoned for jury duty prevents trials from moving forward, which prevents justice being served for all victims.
Polk faces a minimum penalty of twenty (20) years per count, and a maximum penalty of Life (in prison) per count. Sentencing will be held in August in the Washington County Courthouse.