Former Tenn. restaurant manager gets 46 years for abusing teen

SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. (WTVF) — A Sumner County judge sentenced a former Portland restaurant manager to 46 years in prison Friday for grooming, exploiting and sexually abusing a 16-year-old job applicant.

District Attorney Thomas Dean said 43-year-old Landin Justin Long was sentenced after a jury convicted him in February.

Jurors found Long guilty of statutory rape by an authority figure, two counts of especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Prosecutors said Long used his position as a restaurant manager to target the teen victim.

Long will remain in prison under the sentence imposed by the court.

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Checking in on Cole: Gallatin rallies around teen battling brain tumor with prayer vigil

Austin Pollack brings us an update on a remarkable young man facing great odds, and his family has one simple request: pray for Cole. I believe in the power of prayer and hope you'll join me in lifting up Cole and his family.

- Carrie Sharp