A Marshall County man sentenced to 40 years in prison after confessing to the sexual abuse of a child.

James Alan Hayes, 51, of Guntersville received the maximum sentence when Circuit Judge Matt Elliott handed it down Monday morning. Hayes previously pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a child less than 12.

The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Jennifer Bray.

In a news release, Bray said:

On September 3, 2024, Hayes entered the Geraldine Police Department where he informed officers that he needed to confess to a crime that occurred in Marshall County. Inv. Hagan Wilbanks and Inv. Robert Fann responded for the Guntersville Police Department and Marshall County Sheriff's Office, respectively. Hayes confessed to Inv. Wilbanks and Inv. Fann that he molested a family member while livin

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