OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – A federal appeals court has upheld the
500-month sentence of a Canyon, Texas, man and Liberal native who pleaded guilty to
abducting a 10-year-old Texhoma girl in 2007.
Terrance McGuire argued that his punishment was "substantively
unreasonable," and that undue emphasis was placed on the victim’s
age and the fact he sexually assaulted her.
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday the trial
court didn’t abused its discretion when it imposed a sentence that
was 14 years above the range recommended by federal sentencing
guidelines.
Authorities say the girl was riding her bike near her home in
Texhoma when McGuire lured her into his car. He released her the
next day at a Clovis, N.M., convenience store.
McGuire’s attorney, Howard Pincus, didn’t immediately return a
call on Wednesday seeking comment.