Man may serve 70 years in sex abuse offense

 SHEPHERDSVILLE — A Bullitt Circuit Court jury has recommended a man receive a 70-year sentence for sexual abuse of a minor female.

After the first trial ended in a mistrial, Jeremy W. Browning, 32, of Mount Washington, was found guilty of sex abuse, two counts of unlawful transaction with a minor, incest and being a persistent felony offender.

The jury listened to a tape recording of the man and girl in the bedroom in October 2010.

After listening to the tape, the girl’s mother went to the Bullitt County Sheriff’s Department, where an investigation was opened by Det. Mike Cook.

The victim cried as she explained to the jury what had happened to her. The juvenile went into detail as she described what happened to her on several occasions during 2009 and 2010.

Browning was indicted for sex abuse, two counts of unlawful transaction with a minor and incest.

Defense attorney Kristin Perdue argued that the victim had recanted her story and it took the mother three days before she went to the authorities.

The jury recommended the maximum sentence of 70 years for Browning. Originally, the jury had recommended an even longer sentence but judge Rodney Burress had to send the panel back for more deliberation to calculate the sentence.

Final sentencing has been set for May 15.

He is currently being held in the Bullitt County Detention Center on a $250,000 cash bond.