Tidwell Denies New Trial For Convicted Child Sex Offender

Sixth District Court Judge Wes Tidwell has denied a convicted sex offender from Sumner a new trial. The court sentenced 40-year-old Lonnie O’Neal to 50 years in prison in September after his conviction on three counts of sexual child abuse under the age of 14 and two counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact. O’Neal’s attorney had claimed improper contact between his former boss and jury members.