An Augusta man convicted of molesting two girls was sentenced to 41 years in prison Wednesday.
Judge James G. Blanchard Jr. imposed the sentence on Marreese Hudson immediately after a Richmond County Superior Court jury convicted him of four counts child molestation, and a single count each of aggravated assault, misdemeanor cruelty to children and interference with a 911 call.
The judge also ordered the prosecutor to contact the Department of Family and Children Services to determine whether the victims are safe in their current home, and whether their mother coerced them to testify in defense of Mr. Hudson this week.
Assistant District Attorney Anthony Nicastro told the jury in his closing argument Wednesday that it was obvious the girls were coached on their testimony. What was more telling and truthful, he said, were statements the girls, then 10 and 12, gave to a forensic interviewer in the spring of 2008.
Both said Mr. Hudson insisted on "checking them," which they said was an expression he used when he wanted them to show their genitalia. Mr. Hudson used the same expression when questioned by a sheriff's investigator, Mr. Nicastro said.
Mr. Hudson proclaimed his innocence and blamed a family friend for making up a story for the girls to repeat.
The mother and the girls testified the allegations were lies, Assistant Public Defender Alexia Davis argued to jurors in closing.
"We need you to listen. We need you to hear the children and (their mother)," Ms. Davis said.
Mr. Nicastro, who argued the molestation of the older girl had started to escalate before the girls told an adult what was happening, asked the jury to view the testimony with an adult's scrutiny.
When the mother heard what the girls said was happening, she confronted Mr. Hudson, who slammed a trophy onto her head and ripped the phone off the wall, Mr. Nicastro said. Much later, after discussions with Mr. Hudson, the mother decided he was innocent, the prosecutor said.
"Hopefully your guilty verdict will help (the mother) see the light," he said.
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This is not unusual to suspect that the wife coached the kids to speak in the man's defense, but the time to determine that is BEFORE the trial-not after. This case may have holes and DFACS is not the bunch to find them.
While I'm glad this perv will be off the street for the next few years, I hope the story doesn't run again. Twice is plenty for me.
Looks life he's gona get the shaft. pervert.
Children do NOT make up these sort of details. Shame on mom for not believing these girls. Life with this monster masquerading as a man was difficult enough; your mother is supposed to be your last, best line of defense. I hope Mr. Hudson meets a big ol' "girlfriend" in prison who likes to check Mr. Hudson's junk - daily and painfully!
That would be the butt, Bob
The women does not deserve children. I never understood how a woman could put a man above her children.
There are predators on the loose... protect your children ladies and gentlemen... protect your relatives' children and your neighborhood children. It will take all .... ALL adults paying more attention to children... and knowing who is with them when, ideally we would know when a child was being abused... not as easy as you first might think. One down.... several hundred thousand predators to go. I will be interested to see if an "investigation" results in charges of witness tampering or coersion by the mother.
Sick pervert. I hope he get his in prison. Maybe some of his cell mates will "check him."
The Mother should be the FIRST and BEST to confide in. It is her job to protect them. However, it sounds like this woman would have convinced the girls to keep quiet. HOW SICK!!!!!!!
The mother is sicker than he is and should be charged equally. Those girls have been betrayed twice.