Man sentenced to 50 years for sexual battery and touching of a child for lustful purposes

Biloxi, MS – Thirty-five year-old Gary Raymon Rush of Meridian, MS was sentenced this week to a total of 50 years in custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections for the charges of Sexual Battery and two counts of Touching of a Child for Lustful Purposes.

Rush had been previously found guilty by a Biloxi jury on April 15, 2024.

During the trial, the jury heard the D’Iberville Police Department was called to a residence after a family member woke up and discovered the Defendant in the then 12-year-old victim’s bedroom with the lights off and the door closed.

The victim testified that the Defendant would wait until night time to enter the victim’s bedroom, sexually abuse her, and tell her not to tell anyone.

The investigation determined that the sexual abuse of the victim began two weeks prior to the police being called to the residence.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Mueller heard evidence that Rush had previously pled guilty to a charge of Attempted Rape in Lauderdale County, MS.

Judge Mueller remarked that the victim was unwavering throughout the trial, and that this crime profoundly impacted the victim. Due to the nature of the crime, Rush will serve his sentence day-for-day, without the possibility of parole or early release.