Alabama man sentenced to life in prison for soliciting child

CENTRE, Ala. (WDEF) — A judge sentenced an Alabama man to life in prison for electronically soliciting sex from a 13-year-old, according to District Attorney Summer Summerford.

Circuit Judge Shaunathan Bell sentenced Jeremiah Lamar Southerland on Monday, October 2.

Southerland pleaded guilty to the charge prior to a jury trial, which was previously scheduled for August 21.

He also had two prior felony convictions, making his punishment range from 20 years to life.

At the sentencing hearing, the state showed evidence of messages from Southerland attempting to arrange a meeting with who he thought was a 13-year-old girl.

After seeing the evidence, Judge Bell sentenced Southerland to life, a maximum sentence.

“Parents need to be very vigilant about who is communicating with their children through social media and text messages,” said District Attorney Summerford. “Children are our most important resource, and we will do all we can to make sure they are protected from predators like Southerland. We appreciate the maximum sentence handed down by Judge Bell in this case.”