Greenbrier man gets 100 years in girl's rape

CONWAY -- A Faulkner County jury took about three hours before convicting a Greenbrier man of raping a 12-year-old girl who has cerebral palsy.

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The jury returned the verdict Wednesday against Matthew Brian Burnside, 45, and later recommended that he be sentenced to 40 years on each of two counts of rape of a person under 14 years old and to 20 years for sexual assault.

Circuit Judge Charles E. Clawson Jr. ordered that the sentences run consecutively.

Prosecuting Attorney Cody Hiland said Thursday that the Faulkner County child, now 14, testified against Burnside, who was a family friend. Hiland said the child's testimony was "very emotional ... and difficult."

"Faulkner County juries continue to send a message to monsters who rape our children that it will not be tolerated in this district; and if presented with evidence sufficient to convict, they're going to send you away for a very long time," Hiland said. "Mr. Burnside will not even be parole eligible until he is 106 years old. That is effectively a life sentence."

Defense attorney Otto Fry said Thursday that he plans to file an appeal but that he had no further comment.

State Desk on 08/01/2014

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