Odom found guilty in rape case
Published 5:15 pm Monday, March 28, 2011
After less than an hour of deliberation, a jury convicted Timothy Odom on three charges that he raped, sodomized and sexually abused a child under the age of 12.
A jury found Odom guilty on all three counts Monday after attorneys for both sides completed their closing arguments in the case.
In a trial that began last Wednesday, witnesses for the prosecution, including the victim, testimony about the allegations against Odom was given over the course. The victim testified that Odom began fondling her at the age of 7 and the first incident of rape occurred when she was 9 or 10 years old.
During testimony by expert witness, Dr. Marsha Raulerson, the local pediatrician said an examination on the victim indicated that she had been sexually abused. However, the physician could not give a specific time frame as to when the abuse took place. The victim was 13 years old at the time of the examination.
During closing arguments, prosecutor and assistant district attorney Todd Stearns said the victim had suffered a loss at the hand of Odom.
“Evidence has shown that he stole her innocence,” Stearns told the jury. “He is a child rapist, sodomizer and abuser. He began fondling her at the age of 7 and began raping and sodomizing her when she turned 9 or 10. He had had one more chance to emotionally abuse the victim during this trial.”
Defense Attorney Wade Hartley said consistency in the testimony of the victim was lacking throughout her time on the witness stand.
“The number of inconsistencies in her testimony is too many for us to go back to today,” Hartley said. “She repeatedly said ‘I don’t remember’ when it came to facts of this case. She had repeated contact with DHR … and never once mentioned Tim Odom.”
Jurors were charged by Judge Bert Rice on the letter of the law and retired to the jury room for deliberations. Following the selection of a jury foreman, the group broke for a brief lunch at noon to return a half hour later. A jury was announced in the courtroom less than an hour after deliberations began.
Odom now faces 10 years to life on the first degree rape conviction, 10 years to life on the sodomy conviction, and two to 20 years on the sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12 conviction.
District Attorney Steve Billy said Odom now faces sentencing on the three counts he was convicted of by the jury. Now date for sentencing has been set in the case.