SALISBURY — A Rowan County jury Thursday convicted Jimmy Lee Farmer of Salisbury on charges of felony first-degree sex offense with a child and felony indecent liberties with a child.

Farmer, 63, was sentenced by Judge Lori Hamilton to 317 months (about 26 years) to 441 months (about 37 years) in prison, along with a consecutive prison sentence of 21 to 35 months.

The victim was 4 years old at at the time and reported to a family member that Farmer touched her private area.

Law enforcement was contacted and a forensic interview was conducted at the Terrie Hess House Child Advocacy Center in Salisbury. The victim disclosed to a forensic interviewer what happened to her, which was consistent with the information she initially reported.

Farmer was arrested in April 2012.

He was convicted in 1984 in Davidson County on two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of his wife and child.

District Attorney Brandy Cook said she appreciates the hard work of Assistant District Attorney Paxton Butler in the prosecution of the case and the coordinated efforts among the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, Terrie Hess House Child Advocacy Center, and county Department of Social Services.

Cook said her office was able to hold Farmer accountable for his criminal conduct because of the bravery of the victim, who stepped forward to testify in court against her abuser.

— Shavonne Walker