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Staunton man sentenced to 35 years for child molesting

Monday, March 2, 2015
By Ernest Rollins, Times Reporter
Douglas L. Robertson

Staunton man gets 35 years for child molesting

By ernest rollins

Times Reporter

A Clay County judge sentenced a Staunton man to 35 years for what he called "one of the most heinous crimes" a person can commit.

Douglas L. Robertson, 39, pleaded guilty to Class A felony child molesting earlier this year and was sentenced on Monday in Clay Circuit Court to 35 years in prison with 10 years suspended. He's accused of having sex with the victim, who was under age 14, between Nov. 15 and Dec. 31, 2013.

"This is certainly a sad case. So many innocent lives have been affected," Trout said in court. "For a first-time offense, this is one of the most heinous crimes a person can possibly commit."

The judge added society would not tolerate such crimes.

In a statement following the sentence, Robertson said he is sorry for putting his family through such an ordeal and admits this is something he will have to live with for the remainder of his life.

The charges against Robertson were filed following an Indiana State Police arrest in September after a two-month long investigation into a tip about a female minor being molested, according to a police report filed in Circuit Court.

It was revealed the molestation was going on for approximately eight years, with the most recent encounter resulting in pregnancy, the report continues.

A DNA test report indicated Robertson had a near 100-percent probability of paternity.

Robertson changed his plea to guilty in January.

Other conditions of the agreement accepted Monday include 10 years of probation after incarceration in which Robertson must obey all laws, register as a sex offender and not have any unsupervised contact with a person 16 and under. He also can't have contact with the victim or with his natural children while incarcerated or on probation until a child in need of services case is concluded. He also must pay restitution to the victim with the amount to be determined by victim's assistance.

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  • This POS' comment proves the Judge made the right decision on the number of years + probation .. he was only "sorry" for HIS family having to go through this.

    The VICTIM will have a harder time, you creep.

    Newsflash .. hardened criminals hate ChoMo's. Hope they take you under their wing and not give you a choice.

    -- Posted by Emmes on Tue, Mar 3, 2015, at 11:01 AM

  • Emmes, the victim was his family!

    -- Posted by tcschurick on Wed, Mar 4, 2015, at 7:25 AM

  • People are too quick to judge. The victim is family, yes. And a lot of times the defendant's family is nothing like the defendant! They have to live with the crime as if they themselves committed it. This poor victim's family is the loser in too many ways.

    -- Posted by tamaralee1 on Wed, Mar 4, 2015, at 8:21 AM

  • 35 years... Douglas is gonna find out why they call it the "pokey" !!!

    -- Posted by stardemon on Wed, Mar 4, 2015, at 10:44 AM

  • life in prison for such a heinous crime would be fine with me. Child molesters are never cured of their deviant desires. may he rot in jail.

    -- Posted by Tracy Jones on Wed, Mar 4, 2015, at 11:05 AM

  • may I respectfully correct the statement tamaralee made. yes, families are victims too but the real victim is the child and that child will have to deal with this all his/her life.

    -- Posted by Tracy Jones on Wed, Mar 4, 2015, at 11:09 AM

  • Thanks for letting me know. I don't read most of the details because they make me sick.

    I'm so sorry for the victim's family.

    I can't imagine what that poor child must be going through.

    -- Posted by Emmes on Wed, Mar 4, 2015, at 12:05 PM

  • Tracy I believe that what tamarlee was saying is the victim (as in juvenile that was molested) is a family member to Robinson. Therefore the entire family suffers, not just the "victim". In this case I believe they are all victims. His family that he lived with and his birth family that has to still love their child but hate his crime. They are all left with scars and have to move on and I pray they are able to help the child that was molested.

    -- Posted by tcschurick on Thu, Mar 5, 2015, at 7:31 AM
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