Sex Offender Receives Twenty Five Years for Sexual Battery Involving Minor

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney John K. Bramlett, Jr., announced today that Leonard Prevost Foster was sentenced to 25 years for Sexual Battery by Circuit Court Judge John H. Emfinger.

Foster, 64, will serve 20 years of his sentence in prison and then be placed on supervised probation for 5 years. He must register as a sex offender and will have no contact with his victim.

The abuse by Foster occurred in Rankin County between March 2007 and July 2008. At the time, his victim was between the ages of 5 and 6. The abuse continued in Lincoln and Lamar Counties until the victim was 14. The victim did not report the abuse initially, because Foster threatened her.

The victim’s sibling was also abused by Foster in another county. This abuse was disclosed to a counselor. Because that victim was brave enough to speak out, the victim in this case also had the courage to speak out against their abuser.

The crime was initially reported to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department. The victim disclosed during a forensic interview in McComb, Mississippi that Foster would engage in sexual acts with her when he would visit her family in Rankin, Lincoln and Lamar Counties. Since the allegations contained abuse that occurred in Rankin County, the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department worked this case.

Foster is currently facing similar charges in both Lincoln and Lamar Counties for further abuse to this victim and her sibling.

At sentencing the victim made a powerful statement to Foster and the Court detailing how she has overcome his abuse and is a survivor.

District Attorney Bramlett stated, “By making physical threats, Foster was able to prey on vulnerable young children for years. I am thankful this brave victim spoke out about the abuse she endured as a very young child. Foster will now serve the rest of his foreseeable life in prison for what he has done.”

Defendant:

Name: Leonard Prevost Foster

Date of Birth: 10/19/1955