A Hot Springs man arrested last year for raping an underage girl repeatedly over a period of four years, getting her pregnant toward the end of that time, was sentenced to 30 years in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty in Garland County Circuit Court.
Clyde Franklin "G" Dixon, 40, who has remained in custody under $100,000 bond since his arrest Sept. 28, 2018, was originally charged with two counts of rape, punishable by up to life in prison, but pleaded guilty to one count.
Dixon, who was set to stand trial on both counts on Nov. 18, will have to serve at least 70% of his sentence, about 21 years, before he is eligible for parole under sentencing guidelines, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Kara Petro said Wednesday.
Petro said the rapes began when the victim was only 12 years old and continued until she was 16 with the last incident occurring in December 2017. The victim became pregnant from one of the later incidences and has since had the baby.
A court order permanently barring Dixon from contact with the victim or her child was issued by Judge Marcia Hearnsberger at Wednesday's hearing.
Petro said the victim was consulted about the plea offer and had agreed to it, noting, "She was really stressed about having to testify at trial." She said rapists take all the control from a victim when they rape them but allowing the victim to decide the suspect's fate "gives the control back to them. It's important that they're not victimized again."
Petro also noted Dixon had no felony history prior to his arrest on the two rape counts.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on May 29, 2018, a 17-year-old female was interviewed at the Cooper Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center regarding a sexual offense.
During the interview, the victim disclosed that a known suspect, identified as Dixon, began sexually abusing her when she was 12 years old with the abuse continuing until the last incident in December 2017.
She said the first time Dixon raped her was when she was 12 and the last time when she was 16, both times at her residence.
Dixon came to the Hot Springs Police Department voluntarily for an interview regarding the allegations and initially denied having any sexual contact with the victim. Dixon eventually admitted to having sex with the victim and reportedly stated it occurred "two or three times."
When asked when the sexual contact occurred, Dixon said, "two or three years ago."
Local on 10/03/2019