The man whose abuse of his daughter inspired tougher child abuse laws has been sentenced to 95 years in prison. Tommy Joe Owens was sentenced in Campbell County today. Owens' daughter, Haley Spicer, was discovered with burns and other injuries in 2004 that led to tougher penalties for child abuse that were signed into law this year. The measure is called "Haley's Law," after the little girl. Owens could have been sentenced to up to 100 years in prison on three convictions of aggravated child abuse and one of aggravated child neglect. Owens is currently 32 year old. Even with good behavior he will not serve less than 80 years.Owens, an admitted methamphetamine addict, was accused of beating and burning Haley, over several months in 2004, though he denied ever hurting her. Haley's mother Rose Spicer said she is happy with the sentence."Just feel like justice had been done for Haley, and I'm just glad that he got what he deserved," said Haley's mother, Rose Spicer.Prosecutors argued Owens should get at least 50 years in prison because the crime was so heinous and the victim so young."He got an appropriate sentence, effectively he will never get out of prison, and someone who committed this kind of crime he shouldn't," said John Galloway, Deputy District Attorney General."I'm happy, but it's just one chapter closed and still got a lot of chapters ahead of me. It's a rough road, but we'll make it with a lot of prayers and friends and family. We'll be OK," said Spicer.Spicer says Haley is doing much better."She's doing good, she's going to school and she's got her brother to play with. She's just a happy regular four-year-old," said Spicer.Haley still needs some reconstructive surgery on her ear and nose because of her injuries from the abuse.
UPDATE: Haley Spicer's father sentenced to 95 years in prison
Owens could have been sentenced to up to 100 years in prison on three convictions of aggravated child abuse and one count of aggravated neglect.
