Marshall County Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Sex Crimes Against Child
From the Marshall County District Attorney Office:
Marshall County-Wednesday morning, Marshall County Circuit Judge Chris Abel sentenced Adam Garvin Harris, 37 of Guntersville, who pleaded guilty to Sodomy 1st of a Child Less than 12 and Production of Child Pornography the morning his trial was set to begin, to the maximum life in prison. Because Harris’s charges included Class A sex offenses involving a child less than 12, the life sentences in his case must be served day-for-day, meaning Harris will never be released from the walls of an Alabama prison. The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Jennifer Bray and Assistant District Attorney Adam Culbert.
During today’s sentencing hearing, the court heard extensive evidence regarding the nature and circumstances of the offenses. That evidence included Instagram messages between the Defendant and at least three individuals in which the Defendant admitted to sexually abusing the 9-year-old victim in the case. Evidence also included pornographic images of the child victim recovered during a forensic download of the Defendant’s cell phone. In addition, evidence presented included more than 700 pages of text messages exchanged between the Defendant and the victim, where it was evident the Defendant was trying to normalize a sexual relationship between he and the victim.
District Attorney Bray stated:
“This case revealed deeply disturbing conduct, but it also revealed the incredible courage and strength of a victim who refused to let what happened to her define her. I could not be more proud of the bravery she showed throughout this process. She is strong, resilient, and I have no doubt she will persevere and go on to do incredible things despite the trauma she will always live with. If you ask her what she wants to be when she grows up, she will say a brain surgeon, and we are eagerly cheering her on every step of the way.”
DA Bray also thanked Judge Abel for the sentence imposed in the case.
“We would like to thank Judge Abel for his commitment to justice and to child victims by handing down a sentence that ensures Mr. Harris will never breathe a breath outside of a prison again.”
The Marshall County District Attorney’s Office would also like to thank the Guntersville Police Department, especially Chief Inv. Mark Fortune, digital forensic examiner Inv. Barry Maddux, the Child Advocacy Center of Marshall County, the Marshall County Department of Human Resources, Predator Poachers, Victim Services Officer Beverly Bozarth, and Legal Secretary Kelsey Elliott for their tireless work during the investigation and trial preparation of this case. Their dedication and hard work even when reading and seeing the unthinkable, ensured this little girl received justice today.
