DeKalb County man sentenced to 220 years in prison for sex abuse

FORT PAYNE, Ala. (WHNT) — A DeKalb County man was sentenced Wednesday to 220 years in prison for 15 counts of sexual abuse of a child, according to court records.

Travis Eugene Wolfe was sentenced to 220 years in prison by the Alabama Department of Corrections by Circuit Court Judge Shaunathan Bell during a September 20 sentencing hearing.

Wolfe was convicted on 15 counts, including:

• 20 years in prison on each count for two counts of second-degree rape
• 20 years in prison on each count for four counts of second-degree sodomy
• 20 years in prison for one count of sexual extortion
• 10 years in prison for one count of luring a child somewhere to commit or propose sexual acts
• 10 years for a first-degree sexual abuse charge
• 10 years in prison for each of six counts of second-degree sexual abuse.

Wolfe was initially charged with sexual abuse in 2020 and convicted of all 15 counts in June.

Bell’s sentencing order says Wolfe will serve the total sentence of 220 years consecutively. Bell also said in his order that he believed the victim in the case should be assured that her cries for help would be heard by the court.

“However, the victim in this case must be assured that her cry for help was not ignored by this court,” Bell said in the order, “and her plea for help in bearing the burden of these abuses will not and have not been heard.” by its creator.

Summer Summerford, DeKalb County District Attorney, said she is glad the maximum sentence was set in this case because she believes it sets an example.

“We are grateful for the maximum sentences handed down in these cases,” the prosecutor said. “This should serve as an example and a warning to child predators that sex crimes against children will not be tolerated in our community.” Justice was served thanks to the courage and bravery of the victim and her family, as well as the efforts of law enforcement.

Summerford said the case was a collaboration between officers from the Fort Payne Police Department, the DeKalb County Department of Human Resources, the DeKalb County Child Advocacy Center and the 9th District Attorney’s Office judicial circuit.