Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Rapist faced life in prison if he had been found guilty by a jury.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- An angry Teresa Butch lashed out against the man who repeatedly raped her young grandson, wanting him to spend the rest of his life in prison.
Instead, Judge Andrew Logan of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court sentenced James Lee Blackburn, 26, to 21 years in prison after finding him guilty of three counts of rape.
"I hate your guts for what you've done," an emotional Butch, of Warren, told Blackburn from her wheelchair before the bench.
As Butch spoke, often directly to Blackburn rather than to the judge, Blackburn's girlfriend, who is also the victim's mother, yelled remarks from the gallery against her mother. She was warned by court security to keep quiet.
At one point, deputies removed Blackburn from the courtroom because he was instigating his girlfriend's comments.
Found guilty
Blackburn pleaded no contest and was found guilty of raping the boy, who is now 8. The county prosecutor's office said Blackburn, of Warren, raped the boy last summer and last Dec. 14. He was charged by Warren police in February.
Sometimes during the sentencing hearing, Blackburn had a smirk on his face.
"He thinks it's funny," Butch told the court. "I want him to go to jail for the rest of his life. I want justice for my grandson."
Butch read a letter from the boy who said he is escorted to school because he feared he would be harmed by Blackburn.
Butch said her grandson continues to receive counseling.
'Outrageous' conduct
Judge Logan termed Blackburn's conduct "outrageous," noting he has no respect for the court.
"There is no end to the damage you have done to this child," the judge told him.
Blackburn was originally indicted on three counts of rape, all of which carried potential life sentences because the victim was younger than 10.
In a plea agreement between Blackburn's lawyer, Anthony Consoldane of the public defender's office, and Diane Barber, an assistant county prosecutor, Blackburn pleaded guilty to three counts of rape and was sentenced to seven years for each count with the sentences to run consecutively.
Judge Logan pointed out that Blackburn won't be eligible for parole during the 21 years. Blackburn was declared a sexual predator.
Butch said afterward that she was satisfied with the sentence because she was concerned Blackburn would be released from prison in 10 years.
At the same time, Butch called on young victims to tell their parents if they are attacked.
yovich@vindy.com