INDEPENDENCE — A judge has ruled that Fred Lee Sweet of Galax, convicted of two counts of aggravated sexual battery of a child, is entitled to a mental evaluation.
Sweet was convicted during his trial in June 2010. A jury of eight women and four men deliberated about three hours before finding Sweet, 68, guilty of both charges.
The offenses involved a girl who was five years old at the time.
The jury recommended a sentence of five years in prison and a $20,000 fine on one charge and seven years in prison and a $30,000 fine on the second charge.
If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the Gazette, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.
Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.
If you are new to the award winning Gazette and wish to get a subscription or simply gain access to our online content then please enter your ZIP code below and continue to setup your account.
| ZIP Code: | |