Grayson man sentenced to eight years in prison for sexually abusing young girls

GRAYSON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — A northeastern Kentucky man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for sexually abusing multiple young girls, according to a release from Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office.

Chester Griffith, 76, of Grayson, was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty in January to two felony counts of first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of criminal attempt to commit first-degree sexual abuse. The charges involved victims under the age of 16, including two girls under the age of 12.

According to the release, Griffith will be required to register as a lifetime sex offender in Kentucky. In addition, a 10-year Interpersonal Protective Order (IPO) will be issued on behalf of each of the four victims.

“After years of abuse and predatory behavior, this criminal is where he belongs,” Attorney General Coleman said in the release. “We are grateful for the courage of these victims in coming forward and the hard work of investigators and prosecutors so that this man can never harm another child.”

The case was handled by the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Unit.