This is my the post I made this morning on Facebook.
I have been dealing with other things and was delayed in posting about the court case with my predator from high school. I had no idea about this article until my friend sent it to me this morning.
This article, in a nutshell tells the story of how we got that lame excuse for a man in jail for LIFE!!! We (the ladies that came forward) got to watch Kevin Owen Dean get sentenced on Zoom last Wednesday. We are very fortunate that we got to see justice prevail. We cannot un-ring that bell but it is nice to have some idea of closure in the knowledge that he can't hurt anyone in that way ever again. I have been waiting 36 years for this. Karma is a thing and it will pay you back.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE SAY SOMETHING if anyone ever touched you in the wrong way. The statute of limitations has been lifted. The possibility of catching your predator is REAL. Child molesters are sometimes relatives and/or like to hide in churches, schools, youth groups, etc.
*Special note to parents. When your child, male or female comes to you and tells you a horrific story, YOU BETTER LISTEN AND FOLLOW UP!!!! Lots of people keep molesting because the kids are afraid to say anything because they think they will get in trouble and won't be believed. (That was exactly the case with the 3 of us girls. Our parents protected the predator because he was a high ranking person in our church.)
I am grateful to my friend for reaching out to me back in 2010 to tell me her story. I am grateful to another woman who reached out to me just 2 weeks ago and I was able to put her in touch with the DA. I am grateful that the step-granddaughter told her mother and that mother believed her. I cannot take the pain away from these women, but I love and commend them for their bravery, tenacity and courage.
By law, the prosecution has to share the witness list with the defense. When Dean found out that the 4 of us were coming IN PERSON to testify against him, he caved and switched his plea to guilty.
Special thanks to Lindsay Raynor, Assistant District Attorney -Cobb Judicial Circuit and Jessica Hines, Victim/Witness Advocate, Special Victims Unit Cobb County, District Attorney's Office for all of your help, understanding and perseverance on this case. I also want to give thanks to Sharon M. Fox, the retired Senior Assistant District Attorney who started this case back in 2010. xoxoxoxo
I do offer my condolences to his 2 daughters; I hope he left them alone.
LET THE HEALING BEGIN!!!
By Lisa Davis
FOX News Atlanta: Former teacher, pastor sentenced to prison for molesting young Georgia relative