WEST UNION — Ricky Putman will spend the rest of his life in
prison after jurors Monday convicted him of first-degree sexual
abuse causing serious injury.
Putman, 43, of Arlington, was accused of performing a sex act on
a 2-year-old girl in May 2010.
The conviction for Class A felony results in a mandatory life
term. Sentencing is set for 9:30 a.m. Dec. 29.
Putman had little reaction to the verdict, which came less than
an hour after the jury began deliberations.
Assistant Iowa Attorney General Denise Timmins said during
closing arguments that Putman had been sexually aggressive with the
toddler’s mother prior to spending the night at their home.
“He was ramped up that evening,” Timmins said. “He didn’t get
what he wanted from (the victim’s mother), so he ended up taking it
from (the girl).”
Her father testified that he saw blood on Putman’s hand and
shirt in the morning. A deputy who later interviewed Putman at his
home said he appeared to have showered and done laundry.
Putman denied touching the victim and said he had worn different
clothing than that identified by witnesses.
Putman also claimed he had slept downstairs, but the victim’s
father testified Putman stayed upstairs in a bedroom near the
girl’s crib.
“His statements are indicative of his guilt,” Timmins said.
Timmins noted a doctor from the University of Iowa Hospitals and
Clinics in Iowa City testified fresh bruising on the girl’s face
and head was consistent with being restrained, and damage to her
vaginal area could be explained by forcible penetration.
“This was not an accident,” Timmins said. “The defendant
committed what most people would consider an unthinkable act, an
unimaginable act.”
Defense attorney Aaron Hawbaker argued the family is protecting
the girl’s father, who did not initially alert his wife to
suspicions of abuse.
“There’s not a single person in this room who doesn’t want
justice for (the victim), but it’s not justice for (the victim) to
convict the wrong person,” Hawbaker said. “When it comes to sexual
abuse, it’s most often amongst families.”
Hawbaker had repeatedly objected to evidence suggesting Putman
maintained a collection of graphic child pornography on computer
equipment. During closing arguments, he said nothing proves the
files were accessed or opened by Putman.
“There is no clear evidence they were even downloaded,” Hawbaker
said. “They may have been pushed by a computer virus or something
of the like.”
None of 26 items tested for DNA evidence, including a bloody
crib blanket, linked Putman to the crime, Hawbaker added.
In presenting his defense earlier Monday, Hawbaker called one
witness, Dr. Terry Melton.
Melton is president and laboratory director at Mitotyping
Technologies in State College, Pa. She said a hair found in the
victim’s diaper did not belong to Putman. Tests did not exclude the
victim or her parents.
The sample contained DNA found in about 7 percent of Europeans,
Melton added.
Timmins countered DNA evidence “is one piece of the big
picture.”
“If (the victim’s father) is guilty of anything, it is not
properly taking care of that child that night,” Timmins added. “It
was not a smart move to allow a person you don’t know very well to
sleep alone in the upstairs with your baby girl.”
Article source: http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/5d85451b-0db7-5ce7-ae2d-ad641e237882.html
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