LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KTSM) — A man could face up to 100 years in prison after a guilty verdict in a retrial on several felony sex offense charges, according to the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office (Doña Ana County) on Wednesday, July 23.
According to the DA’s Office, a jury returned a guilty verdict against Alan Duane Dodson on five counts of criminal sexual penetration in the first degree and one count of criminal sexual contact in the second degree during his retrial.
The case was re-tried following a previous proceeding that resulted in a hung jury, the DA’s Office said.
The victim was 10 years old at the time when the abuse began, the DA’s Office said.
Additionally, the DA’s Office said the victim and Dodson were related through family ties and “Dodson exploited that trusted role within the family to carry out repeated acts of sexual abuse.”
“Despite the challenges in prosecuting crimes of this nature, our office remains committed to helping survivors of sexual abuse find justice for the profound harm they have endured,” District Attorney Fernando Macias said. “This case represents a tragic betrayal of trust and an unconscionable abuse of power by someone who should have been a protector, not a predator.”
According to the DA’s Office, Dodson was taken into custody immediately following the conviction and his sentencing is scheduled for a later date.
As well, Dodson could face over 100 years in jail due to the severity of the charges, and he will remain in custody pending the hearing, the DA’s Office said.
“It takes so much courage to tell your story to a room full of strangers. To do it twice is especially difficult,” Prosecutor Anne Swank said. “I’m extremely proud of our survivor and the loving, supportive family who stood by throughout this process.”
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