Gadsden Man Convicted of Rape and Child Sexual Abuse

By Brianne Britzius
Fpx 6
April 6, 2012

http://etowahcounty.myfoxal.com/news/news/109279-gadsden-man-convicted-rape-and-child-sexual-abuse

Thomas Russell Reilly*, 59 was convicted today on charges of rape in the first degree and four counts of sexual abuse of a child under 12 years of age. He will be sentenced May 30 and could face 20-99 years in jail or life imprisonment.

Reilly allowed multiple female children to spend the night at his house on the premise that he could take them to church the next morning. He would also pick the children up from school on Wednesdays to attend church that evening.

Law enforcment says that Reilly worked as an usher and security guard for the church and also drove children to church in a van. He told authorities he was not paid for any of these services and he didn't charge the parents of the girls for babysitting.

The victims in this case ranged from 5- to 10-years-old at the time of the incidents. Each girl testified in court about the incidents of rape and sexual abuse.

"This was a man who showed two different faces to society: in public, he was a person who was just trying to help his fellow man, but in private, Thomas Reilly had an ulterior motive for allowing those young girls to come into his home. When they were there alone, he was free to pick and choose his victims," said Deputy District Attorney Carol Griffith, who prosecuted the cases, said in a press release.

Sergeant Mike Hooks from the Gadsden Police Department, the Department of Human Resources, and the James M. Barrie Center for Children investigated this case. The Barrie Center, as it is often called, helps investigate cases of child abuse and death, as well as provides services to children who have been traumatized.

*FOX6 is working to get a mug shut of Reilly and will update the story accordingly.