A mother asked for a New Whiteland man to receive the maximum amount of prison time so her child could go back to the happy-go-lucky person she once knew.
And a local judge sentenced Timothy Gransbury, 56, to 45 years in prison, with another five years after on probation with monitoring. Gransbury had been found guilty by a jury last month on charges of child molesting and dissemination of matter harmful to a minor.
The mother said she hopes Gransbury’s prison sentence will allow her child to be done reliving what happened.
Gransbury was arrested in 2014 after the mother reported the molestation to police. According to police reports, Gransbury had performed sex acts and showed the child pornographic videos.
Last month, a jury found Gransbury guilty of both counts after a three-day trial, in which the child testified.
Gransbury had pleaded not guilty to the charges and said during the sentencing hearing he maintains his innocence.
Gransbury had served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years, his attorney Michael Bohn said. Bohn asked for the minimum sentence of 20 years in prison, since Gransbury had not been convicted of any prior criminal charges.
Deputy prosecutor Ryan Bland asked for 45 years in prison and five years on probation, due to the child’s age, continued abuse and trust that Gransbury betrayed.
During the sentencing, the mother said her child was happy before the molestation. She then noticed her child had become anxious, pulling out eyelashes, wetting the bed repeatedly, having nightmares and sudden screaming fits, the mother said.
Gransbury had told the child not to tell anyone what was happening, the child’s mother said. But since telling the truth, the child became less anxious and would be able to go to sleep more easily, until the trial began, the child’s mother said. The Daily Journal is not naming the mother to protect the identity of the victim.
Superior Court 3 Judge Lance Hamner said Gransbury’s military training should have led him to protecting citizens Hamner said.
“You were in a position of trust,” Hamner said.
In addition to the 45-year prison sentence and probation time, Gransbury also was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for the dissemination of matter harmful to a minor charge, which he will serve at the same time as his 45-year sentence.
Under new sentencing guidelines, Gransbury is required to spend at least 33 years in prison.
