JAMES WILSON OF STERLING SENTENCED FOR ABUSING SCHOOLGIRLS IN PLAINS
| Red Rose Database
Sterling Sexual Abuser
In May 2007, a disturbing case involving the sexual abuse of two young girls in Plains has culminated in the conviction and sentencing of James Wilson, a resident of Sterling. The heinous acts, which took place when the victims were between six and nine years old, have left a lasting impact on the young girls, who have now chosen to break their silence after years of suffering in silence.
Wilson, aged 54 at the time, was accused of luring the two primary school-aged girls into dangerous situations, including giving them rides on his motorbike. The girls, whose identities remain protected, recounted their traumatic experiences during a four-day trial. One of the victims testified that she was unsure of what was happening during the assaults, stating, “I didn’t know what was happening, and if it was right or wrong.” She further revealed that the shame and distress caused by the abuse were so overwhelming that it took her years to find the courage to confide in her partner, especially after they experienced sexual difficulties.
The second girl also provided harrowing testimony, describing how Wilson sexually abused her both inside his house and during rides on his motorbike along the back roads of Plains. She expressed her ongoing struggle to move past the trauma, saying, “Wilson sexually abused me in the house and on the back of his motorbike when he would drive up the back roads in Plains. I have tried to put the whole thing behind me.”
Despite Wilson’s vehement denial of the allegations, the jury swiftly found him guilty of multiple charges, including lewd, indecent, and libidinous practices directed at the two children. The court heard that Wilson had also attacked the second girl on multiple occasions, further compounding the severity of his crimes. The jury, composed of eight men and seven women, reached a majority verdict on all four counts against him.
During the sentencing hearing, Sheriff Petra Collins condemned Wilson’s actions, describing him as “a serious sex abuser of two little girls.” Wilson, who had been married for 32 years, showed no visible emotion as the sheriff delivered the sentence. In her remarks, Sheriff Collins emphasized the profound and lasting damage caused by Wilson’s repeated sexual offenses, noting that the victims had been left emotionally scarred. She concluded that there was no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the need for justice to be served.
Wilson, aged 54 at the time, was accused of luring the two primary school-aged girls into dangerous situations, including giving them rides on his motorbike. The girls, whose identities remain protected, recounted their traumatic experiences during a four-day trial. One of the victims testified that she was unsure of what was happening during the assaults, stating, “I didn’t know what was happening, and if it was right or wrong.” She further revealed that the shame and distress caused by the abuse were so overwhelming that it took her years to find the courage to confide in her partner, especially after they experienced sexual difficulties.
The second girl also provided harrowing testimony, describing how Wilson sexually abused her both inside his house and during rides on his motorbike along the back roads of Plains. She expressed her ongoing struggle to move past the trauma, saying, “Wilson sexually abused me in the house and on the back of his motorbike when he would drive up the back roads in Plains. I have tried to put the whole thing behind me.”
Despite Wilson’s vehement denial of the allegations, the jury swiftly found him guilty of multiple charges, including lewd, indecent, and libidinous practices directed at the two children. The court heard that Wilson had also attacked the second girl on multiple occasions, further compounding the severity of his crimes. The jury, composed of eight men and seven women, reached a majority verdict on all four counts against him.
During the sentencing hearing, Sheriff Petra Collins condemned Wilson’s actions, describing him as “a serious sex abuser of two little girls.” Wilson, who had been married for 32 years, showed no visible emotion as the sheriff delivered the sentence. In her remarks, Sheriff Collins emphasized the profound and lasting damage caused by Wilson’s repeated sexual offenses, noting that the victims had been left emotionally scarred. She concluded that there was no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the need for justice to be served.