Photo courtesy of Ozark County Times
A former Gainesville resident currently in federal prison on sexual abuse charges will have to pay $22 million to his minor victim. A jury unanimously found in favor of the unnamed victim April 21 in a civil lawsuit against 70-year-old Tracy Todd Presson.
On March 26, Presson was sentenced in federal court to 70 years without parole after pleading guilty last year coercion and enticement of a minor and sexual exploitation of a minor. According to the Ozark County Times, local attorney Joshua Brown brought the civil suit on the victim’s behalf. Brown says the judgement was sought “to ensure that Mr. Presson did not profit from his relationship with the victim or the victim’s family.”
The case was heard in Christian County after being transferred from Ozark County to minimize publicity. The jury found for the victim on five claims – assault, battery, false imprisonment, a cause of action specific to childhood sexual abuse and a caus of action specific to child pornography.
Brown says the jury’s award of $22 million exceeded his request during his closing argument.
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