Alexandria Man Sentenced For Sexually Abusing Child

ALEXANDRIA, VA—An Alexandria man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for repeatedly sexually abusing an 11-year-old child.

John Tyler Ellis, a 54, had been found guilty of seven felony charges: three counts of forcible sodomy, three counts of aggravated sexual battery, and one count of indecent liberties with a child. He was sentenced in Alexandria Circuit Court on Aug. 31.

During an interview at the Center for Alexandria’s Children, the victim said the defendant lured and sexually abused the child inside his home three different times.

Before the incidents, Ellis was a trusted family friend and neighbor that knew the child for years. According to the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney, the child's stepfather discovered text messages on the child’s phone from the defendant in June 2016. Investigators found the defendant had sent texts for months, leading the child to see him as a friend.

He is being held at the William G. Truesdale Alexandria Adult Detention Center before being sent to jail. After being released, Ellis will be on lifetime probation and will be required to register as a sex offender.

The sentencing comes after more than a year of investigation by Detective Kevin Thomas of the Alexandria Police Department’s Special Victims Unit.

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Image via Office of the Alexandria Commonwealth's Attorney