BUCYRUS — Wesley Kinkead, 41, of Crestline was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to two counts of rape in Crawford County Common Pleas Court.
Kinkead was charged with two first-degree felony charges of rape, with the victims being his 11- and5-year-old daughters.
As part of a negotiated plea deal, 70 charges of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor were dismissed with the prosecution agreeing not to bring additional charges related to this case in the future.
Before pronouncing the sentence, Crawford County Common Pleas Judge Sean Leuthold heard from the prosecution, the defense and the defendant.
Crawford County Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Hoovler was first to speak.
“Your honor this case is a sad case. These are two wonderful amazing girls, who at the hands of their biological father, were sexually abused multiple times,” Hoovler said. “The five-year-old was hurt badly as a result of this abuse. But above all of that, these girls were brave. I would be proud to call them my daughters. I myself know their future is strong because of their personalities and their character.”
Hoovler noted the older victim finally put a stop to the abuse by standing up for her sister. Hoovler said he wanted Kinkead to sit in prison and think every day, every minute and every second about what he has done to his children.
“These children deserved a father who would protect them,” Hoovler said. “But instead they got a father who violently and selfishly took their innocence.”
Hoovler then read a letter written by the 11-year-old victim that said she was glad that Kinkead would no longer be her father. She ended her letter to her father by saying; “Thanks for nothing you dummy.” Hoovler took a moment to commend Crestline Patrolman Jeffries on his efforts to work this case. He commended Jeffries for reaching out to Crawford County Sherriff’s Office detectives for their expertise in this case.
Court-appointed defense attorney Jerry Thompson said in a case like this there is very little to say.
“Since I was appointed to Mr. Kinkead’s case he has shown remorse for his actions but there is no resolution that can restore this family or erase this event,” Thompson said.
When asked if he had anything to say, Kinkead rose and addressed the court.
“I am like a drunk driver, alcohol ruins lives and I let it ruin mine,” he said. “I have to live with this for the rest of my life. I destroyed my family, my marriage and my children hate me. I hope one day they can forgive me.”
Leuthold was not moved by Kinkaid’s statement. Leuthold ordered the 11-year-old victim temporarily removed from the court room but told her she would be allowed back in for sentencing.
“I want to put some things on the record that might be traumatizing. This little girl has been through enough. She doesn’t need to hear this,” Leuthold said.
“I am not an emotional man; I sentence a lot of people and see some heinous crime. But some cases, like this one, make it hard to deal with,” Leuthold said. “The defendant has pled guilty to two counts of rape; rape of his own biological children. This case cries out for consecutive sentencing.”
Leuthold went on to reveal that this case had come to light after the five-year-old victim was badly injured during the rapes.
“This was extremely abusive rape causing this little child to hemorrhage. And, in an effort to hide his crimes, the defendant allowed this child to bleed for three days before seeking medical attention, all to cover his crimes. That blew the lid off this house of horrors. The 11-year-old had to call her mother at work and say, ‘Can you come home, he’s doing it again.’ I find it deplorable that this child so matter-of-factly calls her mother home from work because ‘he’s doing it again,’” Leuthold said.
Saying that the crimes speak for themselves, Leuthold said Kinkead locked the older child outside while he locked the younger victim inside to rape her. Leuthold called Kinkead’s actions “indescribable evil.”
Leuthold noted in that in his brief statement, Kinkead compared himself to someone who was driving drunk.
“I have known people who drive drunk; the court has punished them accordingly,” Leuthold said. “There are a lot of good people who battle drinking. But to equate yourself with them is just you minimizing your own behavior. The only reason you are here today is because the evidence against you was so overwhelming. That’s why you took the plea.”
Leuthold told Kinkead that children are supposed to be protected by their fathers.
“If your children tell you there is a monster under the bed you are supposed to go into their room and protect them from the monster,” Leuthold said. “Father’s aren’t supposed to be the monsters.
“You are a bully and an abuser. I want these children to know that they never have to see you, talk to you or hear from you again.”
Leuthold then allowed the victim back in the court room for sentencing.
Leuthold imposed life sentences on each count of rape, each being a minimum of a 25-year sentence. The sentences will be served consecutively. Kinkead will not be eligible for parole until he serves 50 years in prison, when he would be 91 years old.
Leuthold spoke directly to the young victim.
“Look I know your life is turned upside down right now,” he said. “I know Christmas is coming. I want you to keep the hope. You can be anything you want to be. The best gift I can give you is that I promise you he will never be a part of your life again.”