Horntown man admits to crimes involving child

By Linda Cicoira

A 65-year-old Horntown man pleaded guilty Thursday in Accomack Circuit Court to having sex with a young teenage foster child and robbing her of a cell phone in January 2023.

According to forensic results, Willis Herbert Townsend, of Horntown Road, could not be eliminated as the suspect. He pleaded guilty to robbery and the lesser charge of carnal knowledge, rather than rape, the initial charge. A short-form presentence report and a psychosexual evaluation were ordered.

Townsend has been in jail since he was arrested in April 2023 because a judge ruled that he was a danger to the public, especially since a firearm was involved.

In a plea agreement with Commonwealth’s Attorney Spencer Morgan, counts of soliciting child pornography, sexual abuse of a child, assault and battery, brandishing a firearm, and property destruction were not prosecuted.

Morgan said the child is now in foster care in another state. The agreement protected the 13-year-old from testifying in an “ugly and very damaging trial,” the prosecutor added.

The combined maximum sentence for the offenses is 30 years in prison. The plea bargain calls for seven years of active time in the state penitentiary, or a total of 27 years with 30 years of good behavior. Sentencing was set for Sept. 25.

     A proffer of the evidence stated another resident found the girl on the side of the road and took her to the sheriff’s office, where she told of the gruesome encounter.