A former Rome businessman convicted of Child Molestation and Aggravated Child Molestation, Sodomy and two counts of Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes is filing an appeal, in the hope of gaining an earlier than scheduled release from prison.

48 year old Lance Walker was found guilty last summer and sentenced to 25 years in prison to be followed by probation for life.

His attorney – Jimmy Berry – is arguing that an aggravated child molestation charge should have been merged with another charge, and if the court agrees, it could mean Walker could be paroled earlier.

That appeal to the Georgia Court of Appeals comes a month after a Floyd County Superior Court Judge denied a motion for a new trail in the case.

Walker was arrested in September of 2012 and is currently incarcerated at Wilcox State Prison.

(Coosa Valley News/Rome News-Tribune)