Attalla man sentenced to four life sentences

Johnnie Edwin Fox Jr.

A 46 year old Alabama City man has been sentenced to four terms of life imprisonment for aggravated child abuse, rape and sodomy involving two children, according to Etowah County District Attorney Jimmie Harp.  Johnnie Edwin Fox Jr., was convicted Nov. 22 by an Etowah County jury on the charges.  The case centered on the testimony of two children, ages 5 and 8. Fox was convicted on one count of aggravated child abuse against each child, and first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy against the 8-year-old.  Fox in December 2011 called 911, alleging that the children's mother was not adequately caring for the children.  Etowah County Sheriff's deputies and workers from the Department of Human Resources conducted an investigation and determined Fox had been physically abusive to both children on numerous occasions, and that their mother had been present and had done nothing to prevent the abuse, both were arrested in January 2012 on child abuse charges. Later, when the children were placed in an environment in which they felt safe, adults overheard the 5-year-old say he had observed Fox performing sexual acts on his sister. After additional investigation, Fox was charged in September 2012 with rape and sodomy, and the original child abuse charges were upgraded.  Prosecutors say Fox has a number of prior felony convictions and faced sentences of life imprisonment or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.