LOUISVILLE, Ky. — More than a decade after a Kentucky man was sentenced to centuries in prison, he is once again receiving the maximum penalty for his charges.
In 2010, Henry Junie Crawford Jr. was found guilty of several felonies including rape, sodomy, robbery, and burglary in connection to a 1990 cold case. He was also found guilty of being a persistent felony offender.
Crawford was originally sentenced to 200 consecutive years in prison. The sentence was based on the law in 1990.
Kentucky’s Court of Appeals ruled earlier this year that he would need to be re-sentenced under the current law, which caps sentences for some convictions.
On Thursday, Crawford once again received the maximum sentence of 70 years in prison.
“For the survivor of this crime to have to wait 34 years for trial proceedings to finally wrap is unimaginable,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerina D. Whethers said Friday. “The conclusion of this case should say to everyone that no matter how long it takes, if you commit vicious crimes against the community, we’ll make sure justice is done.”
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Ryane Conroy has been leading the prosecution in Crawford’s case since he was first indicted in 2007.
Whethers said the latest sentence is a “testament to her over a decade of diligence.”
“The prosecution of Henry Crawford and seeking justice for the rape survivor in this case has been one of the most significant accomplishments of my career,” Conroy said. “It has been a privilege to be her prosecutor.”
Crawford is not eligible for probation or shock probation. He will also need to complete sex offender treatment before he is eligible for parole, the prosecutor’s office added.
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or X feed.
