Convicted Offender Sentenced to Over 30+ Years, Family Speaks Out

Wicomico County, MD - A local family is breathing a little easier this week after a man was sentenced to over 30+ years in prison for serious crimes committed against a child in our community.

To protect the identity of the victim, we are intentionally leaving out case specifics, court location, and other identifying details.

Since we were made aware of this incident, Eastern Shore Undercover has stayed in contact with the victim's family throughout the court process.

Today, they reached out to share the news of the sentencing and their hopes for others who may be going through something similar.

The victim's mother spoke with us following the sentencing. She shared that her family, including her daughter who was the victim in this case, wanted the community to know it's okay to speak up if something has happened to you or someone you love.

Silence can be one of the hardest parts of surviving something like this. Speaking out is what leads to justice finally being served and for a family to start having closure or at least a path in that direction.

Cases like this are never easy to write about. Young victims deserve privacy, and their families deserve support, not speculation.

That's why we don't always share every detail of a case when children are involved. What matters most is that justice was served and the victim and her family can begin to heal.

The mother and daughter chose to share written victim impact statements with Eastern Shore Undercover, which have been redacted to protect the victim's identity. Those statements are below for anyone who wants to read them in full.

Their hope is that sharing their story, even in a limited way, might reach someone else who is struggling in silence. If their experience helps even one other person come forward, it will have been worth it.

If you or someone you know has experienced abuse, you are not alone. Local resources and support services are available, and speaking up is always a brave first step.

We thank this family for trusting us with their story and for their courage in sharing it, even anonymously. Their strength is a reminder that speaking out can lead to real change.

The following is a victim impact statement from the daughter and the mother of this incident.

Daughter's Victim Impact statement: "He was someone that had anger issues, and wouldn't ever remember what he did after drinking. All and all I still thought that my father was someone that I could be around, be loved by, and trust. But I can't. Because of what he did I haven't ever been the same happy little girl I used to be, I've been in and out of short term hospital psychiatric care, I've cut myself till my legs are unrecognizable, and I've lost any motivation that I once had as a child, cleaning myself and my room for example. What he's has done to me make me feel like I cant trust anyone anymore, I feel as if they are judging me, laughing at me, and or going to hurt me, just like him. I used to be a ball of joy, waving hi to anyone I didn't know, getting along with everyone even if they we're someone I just met. But I no longer can live that life as it was torn away from me. Sometimes I ask myself why he did it, then just blame myself, thinking it was my fault that it all happened. I'm far being in school. Due to all the stress, And lack of trust of people, I have to repeat my sophomore year. It gets to a point, where you don't know what to do anything. I thought I had it all figured out but in the end I never did, The trauma has caused me to feel stunted, gross, like crying even if there's no point, I still rock myself back and forth as if that will soothe me, calm me down like he once did, but it only just reminds me how much of a fuck up I feel like. I don't know what to do with my life at this point, I feel so lost. But I'll say this with confidence, thanks to him I found the courage to stand up what I hate the most in this world. People like him."

Mother's Victim Impact Statement: "I have known REDACTED for over two decades and I believed he could never sink so low as to do what he did to our daughter. He has caused her LIFELONG TRAUMA! I see every day what she has to deal with. She hates herself, doesn't trust others, and is a deer in a car's headlights when she is around people she doesn't know. My baby was stolen from me, her childhood flung to one side and now she has to try to pick up the pieces and move forward into being a good student and a productive member of society. I'm asking anyone listening to this ..... How would you survive this into adulthood? I pray that my daughter never learns bad coping mechanisms like drug use, alcohol abuse, or promiscuity to either numb the pain or satisfy someone just to be loved. She will know what happened to her for the rest of her life and she will have to survive it."