A 41-year-old Purvis man who was convicted of statutory rape and two counts of child molestation was sentenced to 45 years in prison Tuesday in Poplarville by 15th District Judge Anthony Mozingo.
Phillip Don Lawson received two prison terms of 15 years each to run concurrently and one consecutive 30-year sentence. Lawson was found guilty by a Lamar County jury on May 3. He was tried by Assistant District Attorneys Laurel Brinkley and Lauren Harless.
District Attorney Hal Kittrell said he thought the sentences were not excessive.
“In essence, Lawson will serve 45 years in prison, day for day, with no possibility for early release,” he said. “He deserves every minute of this sentence for not only taking the innocence of a child, but for abusing the trust of a child who was entrusted to his care as a family member.”
Lawson’s attorney, Kevin D. Camp, received a continuance from the state Supreme Court when Lawson’s earlier sentencing date interfered with Camp’s National Guard duty. Camp had requested a continuance two days before sentencing with an email from his secretary, Mozingo said.
“He requested a continuance based on his service in the Army National Guard, which is scheduled this weekend,” he said. “At no time was anything brought up about the National Guard after his client was convicted. On Wednesday, his secretary emailed a continuance. Although I support our National Guard and military personnel, I felt the request was inappropriate.”
Mozingo said Camp then went to the Supreme Court requesting the stay. Chief Justice William Waller Jr., Presiding Justice James W. Kitchens and Associate Justice David M. Ishee heard the request and ruled in Camp’s favor. Waller signed the order, which was filed at 4 p.m. the day before the first sentencing date.
