Robert Allen Doverspike of Grand Prairie, Texas Sentenced to Ten Years Prison for Cyber Crimes Against a 12-Year Old NJ Girl.

Robert Allen Doverspike of Grand Prairie, Texas was Sentenced to Ten Years for Cyber Crimes Against NJ 12-Year Old

By Mary K. Miraglia

HACKENSACK, N.J. (May 5, 2017) — A Texas man who sent more than 1,000 sexually explicit photos of himself to a Bergen County 12-year old, while exhorting the girl to perform sex acts on herself, was sentenced today to 10 years in state prison.

Robert Allen Doverspike of Grand Prairie, Texas railed against the criminal justice system, telling Judge James X. Sattely he is losing 10 years of his life “because I have no money,” and said he knows of three other cases in his unit at the Bergen County Jail who are getting more lenient treatment for serious sex offenses. He asked the judge to grant him “the immense blessing of suspending my sentence, so I can prove I never intended for any of this to happen.”

But Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Kristin DeMarco said Doverspike had faced 25 years to life in prison if convicted at a trial, and the state agreed to reduce his charges because “We want him out of New Jersey and back in Texas where he belongs.” He pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault of a victim under 13, a first degree crime; sexual assault of a victim less than 13, second degree; and first degree child endangerment.

The prosecutor said the plea agreement is more than reasonable, given the nature of these crimes, that were “heinous, horrific, depraved acts this defendant had this 12-year old girl do to herself,” and that the plea is “extremely favorable to the defendant in light of what he faced, 25 years to life in prison.”

Doverspike told Sattely the girl “lied about her age” and “I have no way of knowing how old she was.” However, DeMarco countered that Doverspike also misrepresented his age, saying he was younger than 19. “Clearly that is no defense, and clearly seeing the pictures, she is a 12-year old child,” DeMarco countered. She also said in photos and videos the girl sent Doverspike “she was holding a teddy bear.”

The subterfuge came to light when the girl’s mother found hundreds of text messages to her daughter containing photographs of Doverspike’s penis, of Doverspike masturbating, and of Doverspike masturbating while wearing a dress and smearing bodily waste on himself.

DeMarco said Doverspike instigated the girl “to penetrate herself, with a hairbrush and other things, making him guilty of sexual assault.” He also committed crimes that constituted distribution of child pornography.

Although he did apologize to the girl and her family toward the end of his statement, the bulk of it focused on himself.

“This is not right, and this is not fair,” Doverspike said. “In my opinion the crime I did does not fit the punishment. I was threatened with 25 years, Avenel, parole supervision for life and Megan’s Law. I do not deserve to have 10 years of my life ripped away from me.

“What I still don’t understand is, I never set foot in New Jersey, until I was extradited, and I am getting almost as much time as a teacher who molested several students and raped one.

“I am very confused.”

Doverspike blamed many of his problems on the lack of money, saying he did not understand he had the right to demand an attorney during questioning. “If I did, I highly doubt I would be here today, let alone facing charges for this much time.”

The defendant’s lawyer, Michele Silva of the Bergen County Public Defender, said her client has been productive during his time in jail. “He is a writer, and has been writing while he’s in jail. He is hopeful that when this is over he can return to Texas and go back to school. He has no prior criminal record.”

DeMarco said the victim in the case has been emotionally and psychologically traumatized, and that her family is devastated to the point they could not attend today’s hearing, nor even write a victim’s impact statement.

Sattely said Doverspike had initially expressed no remorse, but today apologized to the victim and her family. He upheld the plea agreement, and sentenced Doverspike to 10 years. He can be eligible for parole in five, and he has 520 days of jail credit which takes a year and five months off his sentence. He’ll be subject to Megan’s Law and be required to registered his address with New Jersey law enforcement for at least 15 years.

The prosecutor dispensed with a normal condition of parole supervision for life so Doverspike can return to Texas once he’s completed his time.

Sattely waived a fine of $150,000.