65-year sentence for sex crime

A 30-year old Walhalla man received a 65-year prison sentence this morning, on his plea of guilty in a sex crime dating back nearly two years.  The defendant, Michael Kenneth Cox, pleaded guilty to criminal sexual conduct with a minor under 11 years old.  Subtracted from the 65-year sentence will be a total of 718 days spent in jail awaiting the resolution of his case.  At first this morning, court officers anticipated a trial by jury but, according to Deputy Solicitor Jason Alderman, Cox changed his mind and decided to plead guilty.  Cox told Judge Lawton McIntosh that he blames trauma from drugs, alcohol, and sex addiction for his actions in December of 2020.  And he appealed to McIntosh to no avail that he be allowed treatment for his problems and, with successful treatment, he told the judge, he believes he will avoid being a repeat offender.