Wicomico County, MD - On December 21, 2023, the Honorable S. James Sarbanes, Administrative Judge of the Circuit Court for Wicomico County, sentenced Tyler Lecates, age 22, of Millsboro, Delaware, to an active sentence of Twenty (20) years of incarceration. 

Lecates previously pleaded guilty on July 28, 2023, to Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Rape in the Second Degree, and sentencing was deferred pending completion of a mandatory pre-sentence investigation and mental health assessment. 

Following his active sentence, Lecates will be on five (5) years of supervised probation under specialized sexual offender supervision and management, and will also be supervised under Lifetime Sexual Offender Supervision. Should he violate probation, Lecates will be subject to an additional Twenty-Five (25) years of incarceration. Lecates will also be required to register as a Tier III Sexual Offender for life.

In 2019, Lecates sexually abused a minor within his household. The victim was under the age of 8 at the time.

Wicomico County State's Attorney (SA) Jamie L. Dykes said, "Oftentimes sexual abuse within a household is not reported to authorities initially, leaving survivors to fend for themselves. Wicomico County will never turn a blind eye to survivors in need, and we will do what is required to protect those who do not have the ability to protect themselves. The strong sentence imposed by the Court will serve to ensure the safety of the survivor in this case, and will also afford the peace and security necessary for healing."

SA Jamie L. Dykes commended Detective G. Wells of the Salisbury Police Department, who was the lead investigator, Child Protective Services, and members of the Wicomico County Child Advocacy Center for their work in the investigation. 

SA Dykes also commended Senior Assistant State's Attorney Michael Calabrese, who prosecuted the case and advocated for justice.