Byers' sex conviction upheld

The North Carolina Court of Appeals upheld the conviction of sex offender Roy Lee Byers.

The court found that there was no error in the November 6, 2007 trial.

Byers was convicted on January 5, 2006 by a Cherokee County jury of four felonies, two counts of first degree sex offense and two counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor. The offenses occurred in the first six months of 2004 and concluded Thursday, January 5, 2006. Byers was sentenced to 670 to 822 months in prison.

District Attorney Mike Bonfoey said, "I am pleased with the decision of the Court of Appeals. My office never thought there was any error in the trial. The conviction and length of the sentence demonstrates that my office treats these cases very seriously. Sexual predators and child molesters should be in prison for long sentences. Our children and our communities need to be kept safe."

The offenses occurred in 2004. The victim at the time was four-years-old.