Father speaks after man who raped his daughter with special needs sentenced to prison | News
MOBILE, ALA. (WALA)- A responsible plea and 25 years behind bars for Cecil Jackson, the person who raped a lady with particular wants throughout Mardi Gras 4 years in the past.
The sufferer’s father, Stephen Hickman, spoke on to Jackson throughout his sentencing Monday. He additionally spoke to FOX10 Information.
“To go from being the sunshine of her life and she or he would gentle up once I would stroll in a room, to strolling in a room and there can be no emotion in any respect that may come from her, and it is taken plenty of work and help, and love and remedy to get her to a spot the place she feels secure and guarded and liked once more,” mentioned Hickman.
Together with his permission to launch her identify, Hickman mentioned his daughter, Courtney Hickman, was sexually assaulted in downtown Cellular on Fats Tuesday in 2017.
Based on the Cellular County District Legal professional’s Workplace, Courtney was staying together with her group dwelling caretakers downtown.
The DA’s workplace mentioned she was left unattended and walked out her resort the place evil was lurking.
Johana Bucci, Cellular County ADA mentioned, “Primarily based on her psychological standing and incapacity, she’s non verbal and has a tough time speaking and that is how this defendant was in a position to reap the benefits of her and sexually assaulted and raped her in a platform adjoining to Bienville Sq..”
Courtney was later discovered wandering round Bienville Sq. bare.
After 18 months of the case going chilly, the DA’s workplace mentioned DNA by means of a rape package, linked Cecil Jackson to the crime in 2019.
Monday, Jackson was sentenced to 25 years behind bars after a responsible plea.
Hickman mentioned he agreed to that plea to maintain his daughter from having to undergo a ugly trial.
Hickman was in a position to converse on to Jackson throughout his sentencing.
Hickman mentioned, “I instructed him at the moment once I was in a position to deal with him in court docket, that I am not prepared, keen or in a position to forgive him. He had no response, no emotion.”
Hickman mentioned Courtney is lastly smiling once more and speaking because of specialised, 24/7 care in her own residence that’s simply subsequent to his.
He is relieved this half is over and mentioned his battle will now head to the legislature.
“Not at all, ought to any intellectually disabled particular person with an IQ within the 40s, be made to relive a traumatic occasion like this.”
Stephen Hickman additionally filed a lawsuit in opposition to the group dwelling, which has since been shut down by the state and Courtney’s caretakers on the time she was assaulted. That case has been resolved.
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