Alabama Man Forced 10-year-old to Touch Him Inappropriately so that She can Play Video Games: Authorities

A man from Alabama has been found guilty of first-degree sodomy and child sex abuse involving a victim under the age of 12, according to Blount County District Attorney Pamela Casey in a statement.

Dustin Lamar Peoples is accused of subjecting a 10-year-old girl to months of abuse, compelling her to engage in oral sex in return for the opportunity to play video games on a console, as stated by prosecutors.

In March 2019, the young girl shared her experience with a trusted adult regarding the abuse, and shortly after, she visited the Blount County Children’s Center to file an official report, as stated by Casey.

“She did her best to explain the things that had been done to her using terms she understood at the time,” Casey said in a statement after his Thursday, Oct. 10, conviction. “She was innocent. She did not know the common words that adults or even teenagers would use to describe what had happened to her. She spoke as a child. As an innocent child. Dustin Peoples stole this child’s innocence.”

According to prosecutors, the girl reported that she endured abuse from August 7, 2018, until Christmas of that same year.

In a two-day trial held this week in Blount County Circuit Court, prosecutors alleged that Peoples engaged in inappropriate and coercive behavior towards a 10-year-old girl, including forcibly touching her and compelling her to perform sexual acts on multiple occasions.

The individual took the stand, asserting his innocence and refuting any claims of inappropriate contact with the young girl, as stated by prosecutors.

After the ruling, the 43-year-old individual, who had been released on a $50,000 bond since the August 2019 indictment, was taken into custody at Blount County Correction in preparation for his sentencing on November 19.

Individuals could face a minimum of 20 years and up to 99 years for the charge, according to Casey, who highlights that the 20-year minimum is due to the victim’s young age. He is looking at a potential sentence ranging from two to 20 years for the sexual abuse allegation.

The district attorney has stated that, according to Alabama law, he will not qualify for good time, and his sentence will not be subject to probation or parole.

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