Attorney commends victim for testifying against Lee County man sent to prison for 70 years

In 2018, a jury convicted a Lee County man of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in his car and decided a 70-year prison sentence was necessary.

A Circuit Court judge accepted that recommendation on Thursday for 41-year-old Steven Maness.

Commonwealth’s Attorney H. Fuller Cridlin said in a statement that he was hopeful the victim, who was 14 at the time, can find some sense of normalcy and peace in her life.

“I also want to commend our brave victim for having the courage to testify. This is not an easy thing for any victim, but particularly so for a teenage victim,” he said.

(MUGSHOT: SWVRJ)