By Sarah Stephens
Elmore Autauga News
Top Photo: Original booking photo of Douglas Sims.
In February 2023, the Millbrook Police Department arrested Douglas Sims, Jr. for three counts of Sexual Abuse in the 2nd degree. He was subsequently indicted by an Elmore County Grand Jury.
Recently, Sims pled guilty to three counts of Sexual Abuse in the 2nd degree of a 13-year-old child and Circuit Judge Joy Booth sentenced him to serve 10 years for each count and for those counts to run consecutively, for a total sentence of 30 years. That will be served in the Alabama Department of Corrections. The sentence came as a result of the collaborative efforts of the dedicated work of the Millbrook officers, DHR workers, Butterfly Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center professionals and the District Attorney’s Office.
19th Judicial District attorney CJ Robinson said, “The overwhelmingly sad reality is one in four girls will experience some form of sexual abuse by the time they reach the age of sixteen. The sexual abuse of a young girl is a violent act of exploitation and aggression, not affection. We must break the statistical cycle of abuse for those who are powerless to do so. Please educate your children on what behaviors are inappropriate, know who their friends are, ask where they are going, monitor their phones, and sometimes tell them no.”
DA Robinson said he prays the child in this case finds a way to move to the next chapter of her life knowing her offender will be in prison for a long time.
After the original arrest of Sims in 2023, Millbrook Police Chief Johnson issued a statement. It reads, “Cases like this keep you awake at night and make you hold you children and grandchildren closer to you. As a veteran of 35 years in law enforcement, you understand the need to have the ability to numb or distance yourself. You can’t see the things that we see or hear what we hear during the course of our duties and go about your daily life with family and friends, as if things like this don’t occur. That said, some things are you’re not able to compartmentalize. No one wants to believe things like this occur in their community.
“Most people want to believe it happens elsewhere. The unfortunate truth is that things like this do happen. When they do, someone has to investigate, someone has to make sure that the victim receives the necessary assistance and care after the fact, and someone has to prosecute those who are alleged to have committed these types of crimes.
While it’s unfortunate that things happen, I’m extremely proud to work alongside people that are highly trained and dedicated to work these cases and help get justice for the victims and prosecute those responsible.”
