ST. LOUIS – A former St. Louis daycare worker was sentenced Wednesday to 17 years in state prison for child sex crimes.
Last month, jurors convicted Tony Brown Sr., 67, on two counts of second-degree child molestation and first-degree statutory sodomy tied to two girls. The jury acquitted Brown on four other counts tied to a third possible victim.
The St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office said Brown worked at the House of Montessori Education and targeted three young girls in 2019 and 2020. That daycare center has since closed its doors.
According to prosecutors, two of the girls told police that Brown threatened them if they ever told anyone about his crimes. The three girls were all under the age of 12 at the time.
Brown did not make a statement prior to sentencing on Wednesday but had previously denied the allegations. His defense attorney said Brown will appeal the conviction.
At the time of the conviction, the jury recommended a total of 22 years for the three counts.
Circuit Court Judge Katherine Fowler handed down a 12-year sentence on the statutory sodomy charge and a consecutive 5-year term for molestation. She gave Brown another 5-year term for molestation, but that will run concurrent with the other charges.
Fowler reprimanded Brown at sentencing for not only failing to take responsibility for his crimes but also for his behavior during the trial, in which Brown lobbed swears at the victims and their families, as well as jurors and the prosecutor.
“You’re facing a sentence,” Fowler told Brown. “They’re facing a life sentence for what they’ve endured.”
