A Marble City man who was found guilty earlier this year on felony charges of the firstd egree rape, sodomy and sexual battery of an 89- ye arold victim with Alzheimer’s disease was handed a life sentence last week, following the recommendation of a Sequoyah County jury.
Darrell W. Rogers, 69, appeared before Associate District Judge Kyle Waters on March 26 for sentencing after entering a guilty plea on his charges, according to a news release issued by District Attorney Jack Thorp’s office. Rogers received a life sentence for the rape charge, along with 10 years for the sexual battery charge and 20 years on the sodomy charge, with the sentence for each count to run consecutively.
“I am thankful to the jury for their commitment to justice,” District 27 District Attorney Jack Thorp said. “The facts of this case were disturbing, but the jurors did their duty and reached a just decision based on the evidence presented at the trial.”
According to the original affidavit filed in the case, the victim’s family had installed cameras in the victim’s home to monitor their safety and well-being after the victim had reportedly fallen and was on the floor for an extended period of time.
However, when some of the recordings from June and July of 2023 were viewed, some unexpected and disturbing images of Rogers’ actions were discovered.
One of the victim’s children reportedly contacted Sallisaw Police Detective Jeff Craghead to report the alleged sexual abuse. Craghead, accompanied by Sequoyah County deputies, arrested Rogers on July 21, 2023, and took him to the Sallisaw Police Department, where he was interviewed and admitted to multiple sexual acts with the victim.
“I definitely want to commend the officers who participated in the investigation,” Janet Hutson, Assistant District Attorney, who prosecuted the case said. “Detective Craghead deserves recognition for the wonderful job he did in the investigation and interrogation of Rogers.”
“It was an honor to work with such a diligent jury in Sequoyah County, who brought justice to the family of [the victim],” Hutson concluded.
