Man Gets 3 Life Sentences For Assaulting Mentally Disabled Woman

DOUGLAS COUNTY, GA – A Douglas County jury convicted a man for the sexual assault and aggravated sodomy of a woman with limited mental capacity.

Superior Court Judge Cynthia Adams sentenced James Levi Stokes, a three-time convicted sex offender in Kentucky, to three consecutive life sentences following his September conviction by a Douglas County Jury of two counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of aggravated sodomy against a woman who did not have the mental capacity to consent to sexual acts.

Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Sam Newman prosecuted the case, and at sentencing Newman highlighted the extensive history of sexual crimes committed by the 61 year old defendant, the mental incapacity of the victim to consent to sexual acts, as well as the victims testimony at trial that she did not want to consent to the sexual acts committed against her. Newman requested the maximum possible sentence under the law of three consecutive sentences of life in prison, arguing to the court there was nothing deserving of mercy or grace about Levi Stokes and that if ever released he would prove, as he had done in the past, to re-offend. In imposing the maximum sentence, Judge Adams agreed with the State’s recommendation.

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During trial, the Douglas County jury heard evidence that on Oct. 22 of 2016, Levi Stokes went to the home of the victim where she lived with her mother. The victim and her mother both believed that Levi Stokes was taking the victim to the Burger King on Highway 5 for dinner. Instead of taking her to Burger King, Levi Stokes drove the victim to the back of the old Sentinel Building parking lot and parked the car next to a dumpster. He then pulled a banana out of his glove box, peeled the banana, and used the banana to sexually penetrate the woman. He also forced the woman to perform oral sex on him, and penetrated her sexually with his fingers. The victim was bleeding as a result of these acts. After she got home, later that evening, the victim was able to tell her mother what had happened to her. The mother took her to the hospital, and a family friend called the police.

District Attorney Ryan Leonard praised the jury’s verdict and the sentence, and said, “We will always fight to protect the most vulnerable victims in our community. The jury’s verdict and the Judge's sentence in this case ensures that this Defendant will not be able to victimize anyone else.” ADA Newman credited the strength of the victim in testifying in this case, saying, “the bravery shown by the victim in being able to tell her story in a room full of strangers is incredibly admirable. Because of this victim, a predator who has been preying on women for far too long, has finally been stopped forever.”

Photo courtesy Douglas County District Attorney's Office