Chunchula Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Raping, Sodomizing Young Child
A jury sentenced 40-year-old Thomas Andrews of Chunchula to life without parole for first-degree rape and sodomy of a child under 7.
MOBILE, Ala. — A 40-year-old Chunchula man will spend the rest of his life in prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting a young child, court officials said.
A jury convicted Thomas Andrews on Oct. 21 of two counts of first-degree sodomy and one count of first-degree rape involving a child age 6 or younger. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Following the guilty verdict, Jessica Catlin of the Child Advocacy Center at the District Attorney’s Office called the outcome a victory for the victim’s family.
Prosecutors said the sentence ensures Andrews will never be released from custody.
Sentencing under Alabama law
Alabama law requires a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole when a defendant 18 or older is convicted of first-degree rape or first-degree sodomy involving a victim who was 6 years old or younger at the time of the offense.
