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Mother sentenced to 723 years for sex crimes against daughter, stepdaughter

Decatur Daily - 11/3/2020

Nov. 3--A former Morgan County woman convicted of nine felony sex crimes against her daughter and stepdaughter was sentenced Monday to 723 years in prison.

Lisa Marie Lesher, of Carrollton, Georgia, and formerly of Falkville, was convicted last month by a Morgan County Circuit Court jury of two counts of first-degree rape, four counts of first-degree sodomy, one count of second-degree sodomy, one count of sexual torture and one count of first-degree sexual abuse.

"I feel a lot happier than I thought I would," said Lesher's 29-year-old daughter, who said the abuse started when she was 8. She said she was placed in foster care at age 15. "I feel safe and relieved. I feel lighter."

At Lisa Lesher's sentencing hearing Monday, Circuit Judge Stephen Brown read each count and the sentence rendered: first-degree rape, 99 years; first-degree rape, 99 years and 10 years of post-release supervision; first-degree sodomy, 99 years; first-degree sodomy, 99 years and 10 years of post-release supervision; second-degree sodomy, 20 years; sexual torture, 99 years; first-degree sexual abuse, 10 years; first-degree sodomy, 99 years; and first-degree sodomy, 99 years and 10 years of post-release supervisions.

Brown said the sentences are to be served consecutively, and Lesher will get credit for time served. She was ordered to pay court costs and a $250 fine on each count. The judge told Lesher she has the right to appeal.

Brown asked Lesher if she wanted to say anything. "No sir," she said.

"I'm glad she got (the sentence) she got," said Lesher's daughter, who is herself the mother of two daughters, ages 9 and 1, and a 6-year-old son. "She showed no remorse, no compassion. I wanted to hear her say, 'I'm sorry.'"

The Morgan County District Attorney's office said that testimony during the trial revealed that Lisa Lesher and her husband, Michael Lesher, sexually abused their daughter and stepdaughter for several years at their Falkville home. The office said the case was first reported in 2007, and District Attorney Scott Anderson reopened it at the request of the victims after he came into office. The Leshers were indicted by a Morgan County grand jury in September 2017 and arrested the next month by U.S. marshals in Georgia, where the couple lived at the time.

Michael Lesher, who was convicted of eight felony sex crimes against his stepdaughter and daughter, was sentenced in May 2019 to 438 years in prison. He is currently at Staton Correctional Facility.

After the sentencing, Assistant District Attorney Courtney Schellack, who tried the case, said prosecutors are glad that these "two monsters" will be "behind bars for the rest of their lives."

Lisa Lesher, who received the maximum sentence for each count allowed under the law, "deserves every day of it," Anderson said. "Justice has been served."

"It was a long, hard-fought trial," Griff Belser, Lisa Lesher's attorney, said after the sentencing. "I respect the jury's verdict."

Brandon Long, the son of Lisa Lesher, testified at the sentencing hearing, saying, "I do forgive (Lesher) for the pain and heartache she brought to (my half-sister) and I and the rest of the family." He said he was placed with loving grandparents.

But, he said, "I want to see her sit behind bars for the rest of her life."

-- marian.accardi@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2438. Twitter @DD_MAccardi.

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