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Ashley's Place-Sumner Child Advocacy Center
"It shouldn"t hurt to be a child."
JURY CONVICTS WESTMORELAND CHILD RAPIST
Today, following a 3-day jury trial in Sumner County Circuit Court, Assistant District Attorneys Nathan Nichols and Tara Wyllie secured multiple convictions against a Westmoreland man who raped and sexually molested a young girl in both West Virginia and Tennessee.
Michael Clifford Cecil (age 46) was arrested by then-Westmoreland Police Detectives Larry Meadors and Ray Nicolazzi on January 5, 2023 after a 10-year-old girl disclosed to her school guidance counselor that Cecil had been touching her inappropriately. During a subsequent forensic interview at Ashley’s Place, Sumner County’s Child Advocacy Center, the victim disclosed that Cecil began molesting her when she was 6 years old and living with him in the state of West Virginia. After the family moved to Tennessee, the frequency and scope of Cecil’s sexual abuse of the victim increased.
The Jury convicted Cecil of continuous sexual abuse of a child, rape of a child, and four counts of aggravated sexual battery. Judge Jennifer Nichols immediately revoked Cecil’s bond and ordered that he be held in the Sumner County Jail until his July 27, 2026 sentencing hearing. Cecil faces up to 144 years in prison, without the possibility of probation, parole, or early release.
Cecil’s conviction would not have been possible without the bravery of the victim, excellent law enforcement work of the Westmoreland Police Department, and valuable assistance provided by Ashley’s Place, OurKids Clinic, and the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. We also appreciate the service of Victim Witness Coordinators Sally Ann Pirtle and Jennifer Woodard, who provided much-needed support to the victim, her family, and prosecutors.
This office, working alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to hold those who harm Sumner County’s children accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
We would like to thank Resound Credit Union for partnering with us through their donation of much needed goods. It is these partnerships that helps us to continue our mission!
We have rebranded our logo and built a new website. Please go check it out at ashleysplace.net. We are very excited about it.
