By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
A young mother stood in the courtroom Friday, holding a photograph of her beautiful blond daughter at 1 year old. She asked the judge for the maximum sentence for the grandfather who raped her little girl.
Wood County Common Pleas Judge Alan Mayberry sentenced Harold C. Simpson, 69, of rural Bowling Green, to 28 1/2 years in prison.
“He turns 70 in June, so that’s effectively a life sentence,” said Wood County Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Tom Matuszak.
Simpson had pleaded guilty to two counts of rape of young minors, three counts of gross sexual imposition, and one charge of pandering obscenity involving a minor. Both instances of rape occurred at his McCutcheonville Road home in 2018. One of his victims is now 7, and the other is now 5.
His attorney, Ronnie Wingate talked about Simpson’s actions, saying there is “no magical talisman” to erase the harm caused by his client.
“There’s nothing that can ease the hurting, the pain, the betrayal of trust,” Wingate said.
Wingate offered that Simpson was somehow changed by the death of his second wife from cancer. He told of Simpson’s mother’s statement that her son was loving and caring prior to the loss of his wife.
But Wingate added, “There’s nothing I can say that would cause this family not to hurt.”
“He knows what he has done is wrong,” Wingate said of his client.
The mother of one of his victims tried to explain the depth of the pain caused by Simpson. Four years ago, she began to suspect her father-in-law was sexually abusing her 1-year-old daughter. He sometimes offered to pay the mother for letting the child stay with him.
“I tried to speak up,” she said. But she was met by disbelief by other family members and doubt by social services.
“I was told nothing could be done over a gut feeling,” she said.
The mother held up her daughter’s photograph from four years ago.
“She was not able to talk,” she said. “She was not able to tell me or her dad.”
At the time, Simpson painted his daughter-in-law as the “bad guy,” she said.
“He played the victim,” she said.
But soon another young victim – this one old enough to speak – told of Simpson’s abuse.
“I have to thank a brave little girl who came forward,” the mom said, adding that all now know that Simpson is the “true monster.”
Then the mom picked up another photo – this one of her daughter now – in a pink dress with a white bow in her hair. She is full of energy, and loves to ride bike and play in the mud, the mom said.
But the pain lingers, the mom said, relaying how she had to ask for her young daughter to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases.
“I will remember these days for the rest of my life,” she said.
The assaults and betrayal of trust have affected the entire family, the mom said. She and her husband have gone to counseling, and their teenage son is struggling with depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.
“No family should ever have to go through this,” she said. The mom questioned how many other victims – who were too young or too scared to speak – there might be.
Matuszak also asked the judge for the maximum sentence in order to protect the public from future crimes of Simpson.
“He preyed on the most innocent members of society,” Matuszak said.
When it was Simpson’s turn to speak, he acknowledged his crimes.
“I’ve caused a lot of damage,” he said.
But he explained that after his second wife’s death, he lost his way.
“It’s no excuse. I’m just saying,” Simpson said.
And he wanted the judge to know that when arrested, Simpson turned over all his property to his sons.
“I know it can’t make up for what I’ve done,” he said. “I just want them to know I really apologize and I’m very sorry for what I’ve done.”
Before handing down the sentence, Mayberry said he saw no factors that would suggest any leniency for the defendant.
“Mr. Simpson held a position of trust,” and betrayed that relationship with multiple young victims, the judge said. “The court does not find any of the factors decreasing the seriousness.”
Mayberry said he had to consider his duty to protect the public from future crimes by Simpson.
“People who sexually abuse children are very difficult to rehabilitate,” he said.
All the charges require post-release controls and Simpson to register as a Tier 3 sex offender.
But Mayberry acknowledged that Simpson’s prison term is the equivalent of a life sentence. He also told the defendant it will be difficult.
“Serving time in state prison, particularly for someone who is convicted of child sexual abuse, is not pleasant,” the judge said.
