HOUSTON COUNTY | RICKEY STOKES NEWS
A Houston County judge sentenced James Robert Suggs to life in prison Wednesday morning following his conviction for the rape of a 95-year-old woman.
Investigators said Suggs assaulted the elderly victim after taking her on a fishing trip, during which he removed her diaper before committing the assault.
Victim advocate Angela Underwood spoke on behalf of the woman’s family during sentencing, urging the court to impose the life sentence handed down by Circuit Judge Henry D. “Butch” Binford.
“This shows victims and their families that crimes like this will not be ignored or brushed aside,” Underwood told WTVY News4. “For a 95-year-old woman to endure something so horrific after living such a long life, and to still be here, sends a powerful message that justice will be served.”
Although Suggs, who is in his 50s, will be eligible for parole in several years, the Alabama Parole Board has historically taken a strict stance on cases involving sexual offenses.
