Released by the Office of Solicitor Barry Barnette.
A Taylors man received a 25-year prison sentence today after he was convicted of sexually assaulting a child.
At the conclusion of a three-day jury trial, Mark Anthony Gilbert, 50, was found guilty of four counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor.
On July 18, 2018, Spartanburg County sheriff’s deputies learned about an allegation of sexual abuse involving Gilbert and an underage teenage girl. The victim described the crimes in detail during a forensic interview at the Children’s Advocacy Center. In addition to repeated sexual assaults over the course of two years, the victim also disclosed that Gilbert forced her to watch pornography.
Assistant Solicitor Wendy Hallford prosecuted the case. “The victim’s compelling testimony was the key to the conviction,” Hallford said. “She spoke with great courage when testifying about what happened to her. I hope the victim can rest easier knowing that Mark Anthony Gilbert is being held accountable for his reprehensible actions.”
Circuit Judge Grace Knie issued a 20-year prison sentence on three of the charges and a consecutive 5-year sentence on the fourth charge. Gilbert will have his name added to the Sex Offender Registry and the Central Registry of Abuse and Neglect.
For more information, contact Murray Glenn at 809-4892 or mglenn@spartanburgcounty.org
