by Leah Justice

leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

Following last Friday’s sentencing of Anthony Biggs, 46, of Poors Ford Rd., Rutherfordton (Green Creek), Polk County law enforcement officials thanked jurors for giving the victim justice after finding Biggs guilty of six counts of sexual offense involving a minor.

Biggs stood trial in Polk County Superior Court last week and a 12-member jury consisting of seven men and five women found him guilty on all counts.

Biggs was found guilty of three counts of first-degree sex offense and three counts of indecent liberties with a minor. Superior court judge Robert T. Sumner, who served out of Gaston County, sentenced Biggs to a minimum of 71 years in prison.

Lt. BJ Bayne, who charged Biggs in February 2013, said she is thankful to the jurors who listened to the evidence and found Biggs “in fact guilty.”

“This gives the victim some closure where she can now start the healing process and begin moving forward,” said Bayne.

Polk County Sheriff Donald Hill thanked his staff, the district attorney’s office and jurors for giving the victim justice.

“Today is a great day,” Hill said after the sentencing. “Polk County citizens should feel a little more relieved that another sex offender is off the streets and he got what he deserves.”

Biggs was transferred to Statesville to serve his sentence at the North Carolina Department of Corrections.

District Attorney Greg Newman prosecuted the case.

A Polk County Grand Jury also this week handed down indictments on more defendants who have been charged in Polk County for sexual assault offenses, including Zachery Shehan, Timothy Hill and Angel Iquic, according to court records.