Ex TLC Star Toby Willis Admits Child Rape – And Will Serve 40 Years Behind Bars
July 12 2017, Updated 1:49 p.m. ET
Former TLC actor Toby Willis has plead guilty to four counts of child rape and has been sentenced to 40 years in prison, RadarOnline.com can reveal.
A statement released by Willis' family attorney read: "Although the criminal case has concluded with Toby Willis receiving 40 years for the crimes he committed, the impact on the victims will remain much longer. The family is appreciative and grateful that people have respected their need for privacy during this trying time and asks for continued respect as they seek to move forward."
The Willis Family reality star received two 25-year sentences and two 40-year sentences, following his plea.
According to Julie Hibbs, the circuit court clerk in Cheatham County, Tennessee, the former actor's sentences will run concurrently and be completed entirely by the four-time criminal.
In their statement, Willis' family thanked members of the law enforcement "for their detailed and comprehensive investigation of this matter."
As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Willis, a father of 12, has been under investigation since 2016, when the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation suspected his involvement in the abuse of a young girl.
While the crime had occurred 12 years prior, authorities found the former actor, 47, to be guilty. Upon further investigation, the three other sexual abuse cases were discovered.
- Royals, UFOs and Russian Spies: Kremlin Agent's Bizarre Alien Ruse (or Not) to Meet Prince Philip Unveiled
- Prince William's Cancer Battle Torment: Royal Sparks Health Worries With 'Lean, Gaunt and Unshaven' Look Amid Dad and Wife's Disease Battles
- Inside the 'Secret Rules' Of Diddy's Nightmarish 'Eyes Wide Shut'-Style 'Freak Off' Orgies: From Masks To Gay Hookers, Trump Hotel Bookings — and White Nail Varnish
DAILY. BREAKING. CELEBRITY NEWS. ALL FREE.
A frightened Willis fled his home, yet was captured later that year in Kentucky, where he had hitchhiked in an attempt to escape the law.
His victims were said to have been between ages 3 and 13 at the time of abuse.
"Finally, the family would like to thank the District Attorney's office for their diligence and sensitivity in the handling of this case. The family has remained fully cooperative throughout the investigation," read the statement.
Willis' family show got cancelled in 2016, weeks before his arrest.
We pay for juicy info! Do you have a story for RadarOnline.com? Email us at tips@radaronline.com, or call us at (866) ON-RADAR (667-2327) any time, day or night.