MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A Mississippi man was sentenced to 20 years in an Arkansas prison for sexual assault on Friday, according to prosecuting attorney Sonia Hagood. On December 20, 2024, 52-year-old Michael Key was found guilty of sexual assault in the second degree. Key was sentenced to 20 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections and given a $15,000 fine. Michael Key. The case originated in June 2022, when the Arkansas State Police received a report of sexual abuse involving a 12-year-old girl who'd accused Key of assaulting her. Key had pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting children in April of 2003. Those victims testified that Key had subjected them to sexual abuse during Key's latest abuse case. "They (the victims) displayed extraordinary courage by coming forward and testifying," prosecuting attorney Dustin Jones said. "This verdict is a direct result of their remarkable strength. Parent reacts to allegations against former DeSoto coach Jones added that the jury’s decision sends a strong message. “Mississippi County juries will protect their children and deliver justice for victims of sexual violence," Jones said. We will never stop fighting to safeguard the vulnerable in our community.” Fellow prosecuting attorney Sonia Hagood reaffirmed her office’s commitment to protecting victims across the district. "We stand with the survivors and remain steadfast in our mission to hold perpetrators of sexual violence accountable," Hagood said.