A suspect wanted for sexual battery turned himself in to police on Wednesday, Columbus Police Department Public Information Officer Bryan Moore told The Dispatch.
Toney Jennings, 31, of Columbus, is charged with sexual battery after allegedly assaulting a minor Tuesday at a residence on North Lehmberg road.
Moore said Jennings’ identity was confirmed by a witness who made the call to CPD. By the time officers responded at about 2:34 p.m., Jennings had fled the scene, he said.
Moore was unsure whether Jennings and the victim knew each other prior to the assault, but he said the department doesn’t currently expect to bring forth additional charges.
According to reporting from The Dispatch, Jennings was previously convicted in 2011 of statutory rape of a then-13-year-old girl in Lowndes County. He was tried as an adult and given a 15-year sentence for the crime, which was later overturned after the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled the statements Jennings gave to investigators was not voluntary.
Jennings is currently being held at the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center awaiting his initial appearance in court.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
