For Immediate Release                                
February 24, 2009                    
For more information, please contact
Michael Guest at (601) 825-1472

Canton Man Receives a 30-Year Sentence for Statutory Rape

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Michael Guest announced today that Michael R. Maye of Canton received a 30-year sentence for statutory rape through a plea arrangement.  Maye will be required to spend all 30 years in prison without the possibility of parole and will have to register as a sex offender upon his release from the Mississippi Department of Corrections. 

On November 24, 2008, the Madison County Sheriff’s Department was notified by a family member of the victim that Maye had raped a 12-year old girl.  The victim was interviewed and gave a statement that indicated she had been raped several times by Maye.   Maye was charged with Statutory Rape and a warrant was issued for his arrest.  When Maye was presented with this information, he admitted to raping the young girl. 

During their investigation, officers identified a second girl, age 15, who had also been raped by Maye.  Law enforcement was informed that Maye had fathered a child with the second victim.  DNA test were performed and they confirmed that Maye had fathered a child with the then 15 year old girl.  Maye was arrested and later admitted to law enforcement that he had sex with both minor girls.
           
Guest stated, “These two young girls were victims of a criminal who had an extensive criminal history and who should have never had access to these children.”           

Guest added, “We, as parents, must reinforce to our children that we are here to protect and save them from the hands of those who want to cause harm.  We can never let our guard down when it comes to the protection of our children.”

Guest concluded, “Michael Maye will suffer the consequences of his actions and will spend the next three decades behind bars for his crimes. We hope and pray that with counseling and support from their families and professionals that these two young girls will be able to start their lives anew, free from the pain Michael Maye caused.”            

Maye has been previously convicted of grand larceny, aggravated assault on a law enforcement official and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

District Attorney Michael Guest was sworn into office in January 2008 and represents the Twentieth Judicial District, Madison and Rankin Counties.  For more information regarding the District Attorney’s office, please visit www.daguest.com.