A Brookhaven man will serve 25 years on a sexual battery chargeas well as several other charges after pleading guilty in LincolnCounty Circuit Court on Thursday.

Assistant District Attorney Diane Jones said James May, 31,pleaded guilty before Circuit Court Judge David Strong to 10 countsof uttering forgery, as well as burglary of a dwelling and sexualbattery. Jones said the 25 years will be served day for day sincethey are punishment for a sex crime.

May was charged with sexual assault and burglary in May 2008when he allegedly entered the home of an 83-year-old Brookhavenwoman and assaulted her.

The woman, whose name has not been released, told police shefound the man standing in the living room of her home in aneighborhood off North Jackson Street. She said he made athreatening statement before putting a knife to her throat andtaking her into the bedroom and assaulting her.

Almost three weeks after he was arrested, May walked away fromhis bondsman after his bail was paid at the Lincoln CountyJail.

May resurfaced almost a year later in Jones County after beingjailed in Texas on another charge. He was brought back toMississippi where he was sentenced to serve 12 years followingmultiple habitual offender convictions in Jones County CircuitCourt.

Jones said the Jones County sentence and the Lincoln Countysentence will be served consecutively, so May is looking at 37years in prison.

“I consider it a win for the victims,” Jones said.

The DAILY LEADER does not publish the names of victims of sexualassault.