Anderson Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Sexual Assault of Minor

Austin J. Cole, 35, of Anderson, pleaded guilty January 8, 2026, to Second Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor and received the maximum 20-year sentence from Judge R. Scott Sprouse, with no parole, sex offender registration, and violent offender status. Cole repeatedly assaulted his estranged wife’s 11-year-old daughter after she and her sibling moved into his home in late 2023; the abuse was discovered February 23, 2024, when the children were found walking along Highway 28 trying to reach their mother in Georgia. Evidence included DNA from a sexual assault exam and a photo on Cole’s phone. Prosecutors Josh Thomas, Patti Ferguson, and Investigator Michael Cox handled the case, with Solicitor Micah E. Black praising the team and Anderson Police Investigator Keonna Brooks, noting Cole’s betrayal of trust and satisfaction with the maximum penalty.