Vicksburg man pleads guilty to statutory rape

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — A Vicksburg man has pleaded guilty to statutory rape and will serve his sentence concurrently with a prison term he is already serving.

Anthony Qualls entered his plea Thursday before Circuit Judge Toni Terrett and waived his right to have the case presented to a grand jury. Assistant District Attorney Liem Walker represented the state, and Michael Winfield represented Qualls.

According to testimony, in April 2021 the Warren County Sheriff’s Office responded to Merit Health River Region regarding a sexual assault victim. The victim told investigators that Qualls was one of three men who had sex with her at a location on U.S. 80. She was 15 years old at the time.

Qualls is currently serving seven years in prison for a previous assault conviction. After consultation with the victim, prosecutors agreed to a plea deal in which Qualls’ five-year sentence for statutory rape will run concurrent with his current sentence.

He will be required to register as a sex offender upon release.