Anthony G. Linton

A 34-year-old Beaufort man was sentenced Thursday to 27 years in prison for sexually assaulting a young child.

A jury found Anthony G. Linton, of Greene Street, guilty of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.

In November 2009, Linton sexually assaulted a six-year-old girl at a Burton home while the girl's mother was tending to her other child at the hospital. The sexual act was witnessed by the girl's eight-year-old brother.

Both children disclosed the incident to their mother, who called the Beaufort County Sheriff'sOffice.

The case was prosecuted by assistant solicitor Meredith Bannon of the Beaufort County CareerCriminal Prosecution Team.

"I am grateful justice was done," Bannon said. "I am pleased to see a person who has committeda series of serious crimes be held accountable for his illegal actions."

Linton's rapsheet includes four prior burglary convictions, a strong-arm robbery conviction and aconviction for aggravated assault, all occurring in Georgia.

"Meredith Bannon did an outstanding job," said Solicitor Duffie Stone. "Anthony Linton is theepitome of a career criminal. Not only did he commit this heinous act, but he has committed ahalf-dozen other crimes, ranging from strong-arm robbery to aggravated assault and burglary.This is exactly the type of person our Career Criminal Prosecution Team is designed to go after."

Judge Michael G. Nettles presided over the two-day trial.

The above is a press release from the Solicitor's Office