BUCHANAN COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) — A man from Buchanan County has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for child sexual abuse, as reported by the county’s commonwealth’s attorney’s office.

On Tuesday, the judge handed down a sentence of 50 years in the Virginia Department of Corrections for Joe David Smith, of which 15 years were suspended, leading to an active prison term of 35 years.

The commonwealth’s attorney’s office stated that a jury found Smith guilty of two counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of taking indecent liberties with a minor.

Crimes against children are among the most disturbing offenses we encounter, and they will never be met with leniency,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Nikki Stiltner said in a release.

Stiltner thanked the Virginia State Police, Buchanan County Victim Witness Program, and Care Center of Southwest Virginia for their involvement in the case.