Wise County Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Battery Involving A Child

A Wise County man is facing nearly 16 years behind bars after pleading guilty to a charge related to sexual battery of a child. David Thomas Arnold originally faced multiple charges, including sexual assault of a victim under age 13 and taking indecent liberties with a child, but Mountain Top News reports those charges were dropped in exchange for pleading guilty to sexual battery. Last week the 62-year-old Arnold was sentenced to 15 years and 11 months which the Commonwealth’s Attorney says given his age and poor health will likely mean the rest of his life in prison.