
Trinity man convicted of rape, sodomy
Cody Wayne Terry, 30, will be sentenced Aug. 26. He had a prior felony conviction for a violation of the Alabama Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Act.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Joe Lewis, with Circuit Judge Stephen Brown presiding.
Officers with the Decatur Police Department were dispatched to a residence on 20th Avenue Southwest in reference to a rape in April 2021. There they met with the victim, "who had two swollen black eyes, bruising to her face and neck, and injuries to her lips. The victim advised she had been raped and beaten by an acquaintance, who threatened to kill her if she screamed," according to the District Attorney's Office.
Terry was confirmed as the assailant through DNA analysis.
"We certainly appreciate the jury's service in this case. This was a particularly brutal crime, and we are grateful that the victim got justice," Lewis said in a statement.
Terry faces a maximum of life in prison.
— eric@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2435
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