Dallas man gets life sentence for aggravated child molestation

JAMES GLENN WILDER

Following a three-day jury trial, James Glenn Wilder, 35, of Dallas, Georgia, was sentenced to a term of life without parole after he was found guilty of aggravated child molestation.

The trial was held Monday, April 16, through Wednesday, April 18, in Lincoln County Superior Court, with Chief Judge Roger W. Dunaway, Jr. presiding.

Wilder was found guilty on all counts in a six-count indictment returned for offenses stemming from the sexual assault of a 15-year-old female between July 1, 2003, and August 16, 2004. The defendant was arrested in August of 2004.

In addition to aggravated child molestation, Wilder was also found guilty of:

..Two counts of child molestation. On one of the counts, he received life with parole to run consecutive to sentencing on the aggravated child molestation charge. The other count was merged into the aggravated child molestation charge.

.. One count of statutory rape, for which he received 20 years in confinement to run consecutive to the first two sentences.

.. Two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, a charge pertaining to allegations that the defendant created photographs and video tapes, which according to the indictment, depicted "a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct." He received 20 years in confinement on both counts.

Wilder's sentences were ordered to run consecutive to sentences which he is now serving in the state prison system for convictions in Paulding County for sex-related offenses against minors. According to a motion filed by the state, the defendant was convicted of two counts of child molestation and one count each of aggravated sexual battery and sexual battery in the Paulding County Superior Court in March of 2005.

In his comments, Dennis Sanders, district attorney for the Toombs Judicial Circuit, said, "I'm happy the jury saw through Mr. Wilder's proclaimed innocence. There was no doubt about his guilt - obviously the jury felt the same way.

"This sends a message - adults are responsible for what they do," he continued. "Mr. Wilder tried to cast the blame on the girl in this case, but the jury said, 'You have responsibilities - you have to answer for your actions.'"

Sanders went on to say, "Not only did the defendant ask the jury to forgive and forget, he also put this victim and others through a trial. We had to bring in two other young girls, who were under the age of 12 when they were molested, to testify. There was nothing I could do about it. We tried to get Mr. Wilder to plead out so as not to put the girls through this."

In conclusion, the district attorney stated, "Mr. Wilder had no remorse for his conduct and accepted no responsibility for his actions - it showed, and the jury took note. There may be times when our criminal justice system fails, but this time, justice was certainly served."

In an unrelated case that was likewise heard during criminal trial week, Michael Smith of Oglethorpe, Georgia, pleaded guilty to two counts of stalking.

On the first count, Judge Dunaway sentenced the defendant to a term of 12 months, with credit for time served and the balance on probation. The offense occurred between January 1, 2006, and April 23, 2006, and involved a teenage girl.

Concerning the second count of stalking which involved a different victim, Smith received an additional 12 months probation to run consecutive to the first count. He was further ordered to pay a fine of $1,000 plus surcharges on each count and was banished from the six-county Toombs Judicial Circuit.

As part of the plea agreement, which was recommended to the court by the victims' families, two additional counts of criminal attempt to commit stalking were nol-prossed and merged with the first two counts.

The final case disposed of during the week was that of Erin Madison Cooper, who pleaded guilty to furnishing alcohol to a minor and was sentenced to 12 months probation and a fine of $500 plus surcharges.

The defendant was granted first offender status by the court, which means that upon completion of all the terms of her sentence, the charge will be removed from her record.