TEXARKANA, Ark. - The Arkansas Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction and 30-year sentence of a man found guilty of child sex abuse in 2019 by a Miller County jury.
Larry Zane Neff Jr., 52, was convicted of a rape and sexual assault involving an 11-year-old girl. Neff was married to a relative of the girl who had taken her and her brother in after their mother died, according to testimony given at trial.
According to an opinion issued Wednesday by the Arkansas Court of Appeals, Neff's sole argument on appeal centered around alleged juror misconduct.
Neff's appeal included an affidavit from a defense witness claiming to have witnessed an improper conversation between Juror No. 12 and the victim's great grandmother. According to the opinion, the defense witness alleged in her affidavit that the juror and victim's great grandmother were seen talking in the second-floor hallway, that the grandmother repeatedly patted the juror on the shoulder and that they seemed to know each other.
The state filed a response with an affidavit from Juror No. 12 attached.
In the affidavit provided by the state, the juror swore that she did not know any of the family members of the parties in the case except from their testimony. The juror further stated that she spoke with no person about the case except other jurors during their deliberations.
The juror did recall a brief conversation with a woman outside the restroom during a break in the trial. She said a woman she did not know walked up and asked her if someone was in the restroom and that she replied, "Yes, there usually is."
The juror's affidavit states that the woman then said she was going downstairs and that she never touched her during their 30-second interaction.
The juror concluded her statement by saying that her decision was only influenced by the evidence presented in the courtroom.
"We are so pleased that the Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction of Mr. Neff," said Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Connie Mitchell, who lead the prosecution of Neff at trial. "Trials, where a young victim testifies against her offender, can be very difficult on the victim and her family. Now the victim and her family can rest easy that this chapter of their lives is closed and they can continue the healing process."
Neff is currently being held at the Varner Unit of the Arkansas Department of Corrections in Gould, Arkansas. He will be eligible for parole in September 2040, according to ADC's website.