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Child rapist is sentenced to 52 years

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Defendant still faces charges in Arkansas.

Brennan David

An Arkansas man convicted last month of rape and child molestation was sentenced yesterday to 52 years in prison.

Boone County Circuit Judge Kevin Crane confirmed the May recommendation of a Boone County jury to send Jon Paul Reid, 40, of Barling, Ark., to prison for 30 years for first-degree statutory rape, 15 years for first-degree child molestation and seven years in prison for first-degree child endangerment. Crane ordered that the sentences be served consecutively.

A charge of incest was dropped before the trial.

Reid did not testify, but his 12-year-old adopted daughter, the victim, told the jury of the sexual abuse. The girl told the jury Reid tried to have intercourse with her, had her perform oral sex, took showers with her, let her smoke marijuana and had her urinate on him.

The victim told the court yesterday that Reid stole her childhood from her by making her perform sexual acts and introducing her to alcohol and drugs at a young age.

“He will finally feel the pain he put our family through,” she said of him going to prison.

The victim’s mother described her former husband to the court as a manipulator with a sickness but said she forgave him because he was heading to a place where he could no longer hurt anyone.

“I forgive you, not for your sake, but for my family,” she said of efforts to help her children move past the family troubles.

The victim was 10 at the time of the sexual activity, which started in Sturgeon and continued after a move to Arkansas. Much of the trial testimony was regarding incidents that occurred outside Boone County, and that testimony was permitted based on precedent. Reid also faces a rape charge in Sebastian County, Ark.

Public defender Derek Roe argued yesterday that his client should receive a light sentencing because Reid has yet to settle the Sebastian County charge, and those “citizens should deal with what happened in Arkansas.”

“It was very hard for the jury to separate what happened in Arkansas, Missouri and Texas,” he said.

Reid has no prior convictions.

2011 Jun 14