BENTONVILLE -- Some spectators wiped away tears Thursday morning as a deputy prosecutor described a girl being raped and asked for a life sentence for the child's abuser. A jury found Kevin Reed, 36, of Gravette, guilty of rape and second-degree sexual assault. Reed was found not guilty on another rape count.
Reed was arrested July 13. A 14-year-old girl reported Reed sexually abused her since she was in the fourth grade, according to court documents. The girl testified at the trial.
Attorneys gave closing arguments in front of dozens of courtroom spectators. Many of the individuals had cases on Circuit Judge Robin Green's court docket.
Carrie Dobbs, deputy prosecutor, urged jurors to recommend a life sentence for Reed.
A few people in the courtroom wiped tears from their faces as Dobbs described Reed raping the girl.
"He was able to look at a 10-year-old child and see her as tool for his own sexual perversion," said Dobbs, whose voice cracked a few times as she spoke to the jury.
Kevin Lammers, deputy public defender, reminded the jury Reed had an abusive childhood. Lammers also said Reed is remorseful and intends to seek help so his actions will never be repeated. Lammers asked jurors to show Reed mercy.
"Give Kevin some hope and some incentive for him to help himself and others," Lammers said.
Jurors returned to the courtroom more than two hours later.
The jury recommended Reed be sentenced to life imprisonment for rape. The recommendation for the sexual assault was 20 years. The jury wanted the sentences served consecutively. Green followed the jury's recommendation.
"I believe the sentence is right," Green told Reed. "As a pedophile you preyed on a child. I find you are a danger and threat to the community and this sentence is appropriate."
Reed looked down throughout the sentencing. He declined to speak when Green gave him an opportunity.
"We are extremely pleased with the jury's sentence," Dobbs said. "The crimes that Kevin Reed committed against the victim are unconscionable. While there is no way to give her back the childhood she should have had, we hope this will give her a sense of closure."
Reed tried to act as his own attorney earlier this week, but Green denied the request and allowed the public defenders to remain on the case.
Reed claimed he had a problem with his attorneys, Scott McElveen and Lammers, but he couldn't state any actual conflict of interest. Reed blamed McElveen for not delaying the case.
Green told Reed she set cases and handles her court docket. Green informed Reed the Arkansas Supreme Court wants cases to be resolved within nine months when the victim is 14 or younger.
Reed's case was in the nine-month range, Green said.
"It was not your attorney racing you up the steps of the courthouse," Green told Reed. "It's a legal matter."
General News on 04/13/2016