COVINGTON—A 39-year-old Pearl River man faces 25 to 99 years in prison after his conviction last Thursday (June 4) of sexual battery for molesting a 6-year-old girl. The defendant, Joshua D. Liner, is set for sentencing on June 22.
Assistant District Attorney Julie Knight prosecuted the case before Judge Allison H. Penzato. Detective Huey Davis of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
The incident came to light when the victim revealed to her mother that Liner had touched her inappropriately during a visit to his home with her father on or between March 1, 2013, and June 16, 2013. The girl’s family called the police, and in an additional interview with the Children’s Advocacy Center, the girl said Liner also made her touch and kiss his private areas. The girl said she complied because she was afraid and did not want him to get angry at her.
In addition to the victim’s testimony, the jury also heard from a 30-year-old woman, who said Liner had molested her from the time she was 6 years old until she was about 12. The jury deliberated about 1 ½ hours to reach its guilty verdict.