A man was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison Thursday after he was found guilty of raping and killing a 10-year-old girl in Jacksonville.
James Leon Jackson will serve two consecutive life sentences, one for sexual assault and another for murder, after Jackson was found guilty of raping and killing Tammy Welch back in 1984.
The decision was made after a jury recommended Jackson serve life in prison rather than the death penalty.
The judge decided on two life-sentences, telling Jackson, "The jury showed you mercy this evening ..."
Jennifer Roache, the victim's sister First Coast News, "I got justice. She got her verdict. It’s a form of closure now. It’s just a healing process because it will never fully heal, a scar will always be there."
Jackson has the right to appeal and he may be eligible for parole because the murder happened in 1984 -- when parole was still an option.