Defendant pleads guilty in sexual abuse case

Jonathan Lee Wallace, 50, recently pleaded guilty to first degree sexual abuse and a SORNA violation before Presiding Circuit Judge Charles A. “Lex” Short and was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for each conviction.

Jonathan Lee Wallace

Chief Assistant District Attorney Grace Jeter prosecuted the cases. Both cases were initiated by Covington County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Joey Cato.

Investigator Cato, investigating jointly with the Covington County DHR, determined that Wallace had forcibly touched a minor child. The investigation also revealed that Wallace had met the victim while working at a local convenience store and was working in her home when the abuse occurred. Because Wallace had previously been convicted of sexual abuse in north Alabama, he was required to register with, and report changes in, his employment to the Covington County Sheriff’s Office, but he had not notified law enforcement he was working at the convenience store.

“A jury convicted Jonathan Wallace of possession of child pornography earlier this year, and Circuit Judge Ben Bowden sentenced him to 25 years imprisonment for that,” said District Attorney Walt Merrell. “Because of the sentence Judge Bowden imposed, Wallace decided to plead guilty in his other cases. The guilty pleas ensured not only that Wallace will remain in prison where he belongs, but they spared the minor victim from having to testify at trial about being sexually abused.

“From Joey Cato’s and DHR’s investigations, to Grace Jeter’s prosecution, to the jury’s guilty verdict in the child pornography case, to Judge Bowden’s sentence in that case — all of the components worked together to bring Wallace’s other two cases to resolution. Solid work always brings solid results.”