CUSTER COUNTY— While Robert Edwards Sr., 73 of Callaway, has maintained his innocence through the entire Custer County District Court process, the jury found that he was guilty in February and now he could spend the next 25-30 years in prison.
Edwards Sr. was found guilty of 1st degree sexual assault of a child (IB felony) during his jury trial in February and appeared back in District Court for sentencing on Thursday, April 18. The State, represented by Custer County Attorney Steve Bowers, began his argument on what he believed would be the proper sentencing for Edwards Sr.
Bowers said that through all of the interviews Edwards Sr. continued to blame those around him and not himself for what he had done. Bowers also noted that this was not only the case during the trial, but also in the pre-sentence investigation.
It was also argued that when the accusation took place, the concern about the welfare of the child was not the first thing asked by Edwards Sr. Instead, Edwards Sr. demanded that those who made the accusations against him pay him back for the house he had helped provide. Bowers concluded by asking Judge Karin Noakes to sentence Edwards Sr. to 50-60 years in prison.
Edwards Sr.’s attorney, Brandon Dugan, argued that while his client was found guilty by the jury, Edwards Sr. continued to maintain is innocence. Dugan argued that Bowers was only using certain facts that supported his view when quoting things that Edwards Sr. and other witnesses had said.
It was also argued by Dugan that the State asking for a 50-60 year sentence was absurd as the pre-sentence investigation labeled Edwards Sr. as medium to low risk to commit the crime again. Dugan asked that the court sentence his client to the minimum of 15 years in prison and that he also be given 87 days credit for time served.
Edwards Sr. briefly spoke to Judge Noakes concerning his sentencing by stating he was still in shock of being found guilty and that he did not commit the crime and was innocent.
While the pre-sentence investigation did label Edwards Sr. as low risk to committing the crime again, Judge Noakes disagreed and noted that she believed that he was a high risk to commit the crime again.
Judge Noakes sentenced Edwards Sr. to the Nebraska Department of Corrections for 25-30 years in prison with a minimum sentence of 20 years before being eligible for parole.
