According to the court documents, the defendant, later identified as 33-year-old Robert, was convicted of multiple charges, including: se-ual battery – victim less than 12 years of age, se-ual battery while in position of custodial authority, child abuse (aggravated) and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Prosecutors say the defendant was sentenced to two life sentences and will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Per reports, the denfendant was initially charged with more then 1,000 counts of se-ual battery. During the investigation, authorities reportedly revealed that the defendant se-ually abused the child, who was not identified due to her age, for 3 years. The defendant began se-ually abusing the child when she was just 11-years-old. When officers found the little girl, the child had severe bruises and scars, court records say.
During an interview with investigators, the 33-year-old man reportedly admitted to beating the child with cords and belts. Authorities began their investigation two years ago after the defendant talked with the local pastor about marriage, gender and se-ual relationships. An arrest report states a local pastor told deputies that Robert approached him and said he had issues with one of the beliefs in the church guideline book. He then specifically pointed to the word inc-st. As the conversation continued, the pastor told him that what he was doing was not right, and that he needed to report himself to the authorities.
The report states the victim said the se-ual encounters with Robert had been happening since she was 7-years old. She added Robert told her these acts were how to show affection. The responding officers reportedly found the victim covered in bruises and scars. She reportedly told investigators that Robert se-ually abused her for the last 3 years. The DA’s office released the following statement: “This defendant perpetrated some of the most heinous acts against a vulnerable child. This sentence ensures that Robert will not be a danger to anyone else and provides some much needed closure to the victim and their family.”
