'Hardworking guy' sentenced to prison for sexual assault of teen
Douglas K. Wilson was a hardworking guy who in many ways could be characterized as a model citizen, according to defense attorney Jerome W. Paun.
But in 2015, a teenage girl to whom he had access disclosed that Wilson, 52, of Bozrah, had been sexually assaulting her since she was 7 years old. Wilson initially denied the allegations when confronted by state police, but after being told he had failed a polygraph test, he made partial admissions, according to prosecutor Theresa Anne Ferryman.
Wilson, who for 30 years had worked as a mechanic, was arrested in October 2015 and on Friday went to prison for 2½ years after pleading guilty to risk of injury to a minor. He will be on probation for 10 years following his release and will be required to register as a sexual offender.
The victim, in court with her mother, a counselor and a victim advocate, struggled through tears to deliver an impact statement. She said she has experienced extreme anxiety, including around males, and no longer loves school. She said that when she finally told someone what had happened, people close to her did not think that Wilson could have abused her for so long without anybody finding out.
Wilson's attorney, Jerome W. Paun, described the crime as baffling, and Wilson himself could not explain his actions.
"I truly don't understand how that happened and how I could have ever let that happen," Wilson said.
The judge issued a protective order prohibiting Wilson from having contact with the victim or any minors and imposed strict conditions of probation. She said she considered the sentence light for the type of behavior involved, but that the plea deal Wilson accepted spared the victim from having to relive the abuse at a trial.
"This type of behavior is an extreme breach of trust, an extreme betrayal," Strackbein said. "I don't think you thought ahead of your own prurient interest what this would to do (to the victim)."
