The Rome News Tribune reported this week that a Rome man will serve consecutive life sentences, plus nineteen years, following his conviction Thursday on sex crimes involving children under his care that started when some of them were as young as four-years-old.

A jury convicted Russell Todd Turner, 60, on 15 counts, including rape, child molestation and other sexual crimes, on Feb 14. Turner was a caregiver for the children and the victims each said they were attacked the same way, from 2002 through 2022.

Floyd County Superior Court Judge William “Billy” Sparks said, “The evidence was shocking for anyone that had to hear it and this type of behavior should not occur in a civilized society. The sentence is very punitive but just.”