DOTHAN | RICKEY STOKES NEWS
A Houston County jury on Friday, Jan. 16, found Robert James Suggs, 53, of Cottonwood guilty on two felony counts of rape in the first degree.
Suggs was originally arrested in November 2024 following allegations involving a 95-year-old Cottonwood woman who was suffering from dementia.
According to testimony presented at trial, Sgt. Brandon Barnes with the Houston County Sheriff’s Office said Suggs and the victim were neighbors at the time of the incident. Barnes testified that Suggs picked the woman up in a golf cart and took her to Sealy Bales Creek under the pretense of going fishing.
Barnes stated the first rape charge stemmed from that encounter, during which Suggs removed the victim’s adult diaper in order to commit the assault. Court testimony confirmed the victim had been diagnosed with dementia in 2016.
According to Barnes, the second rape charge occurred later the same day when Suggs allegedly repeated the assault at the victim’s home.
Suggs was indicted by a Houston County grand jury in April 2025. Following the verdict, Barnes commented, “She didn’t deserve what happened to her,” adding that he was grateful to see justice served for the victim.
Sentencing has been scheduled for Feb. 4, 2026, according to public court records.
