By Tonia Rose, staff writer
July 1, 2009 — It took less than three hours Monday for a jury to find Charles F. Howard guilty of first-degree rape against a female prisoner he transported in August from Sandy Hook to Boyd County.
The 51-year-old former Elliott County Jailer will spend the next 12 years behind bars as recommended by a Boyd County jury of his peers.
According to state sentencing rules, Howard must serve at least 10 years before being eligible for parole. He posted a $20,000 bond shortly after being arrested and has no credit for time served.
On the day of the rape, Howard was transporting the mother of three to jail. Howard admitted to having “consensual” sex with the woman – and DNA proved that to be true.
Although, the victim told she was raped, as Howard held her down in the front seat of the cruiser while parked along U.S. 60.
Following Howard’s arrest, Mark E. Lewis, an Elliott County Road Department employee, was assigned the position as jailer.
Howard’s attorney, Michael Curtis, is planning to appeal the verdict. Howard will be formerly sentenced July 10 at 1 p.m.
