Sullivan, 75, admits molesting child: Sentence includes 15 days in jail, house arrest
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The defendant, Donald Sullivan, 75, entered a guilty plea before Circuit Court Judge Bart Stanley Friday to two counts of attempted sexual battery. Sullivan, who has health problems which reportedly impacted the amount of jail time he received, will serve 15 days in jail and then be released on supervised probation for eight years.
In addition to the probation, Sullivan will be under house arrest for 150 days. He will not be allowed contact with the victim and has been banned from going on the Wal-Mart property where he is a frequent visitor. It is not alleged any of the incidents happened at the store, instead, prosecutors pointed out Sullivan frequently hung out at the store and he could have access to children there.
The sentence comes after he was arrested early last year after his female victim, who is under 10 years old, reported the crime to authorities. The incidents, which happened over a period of years at times when the victim was visiting Sullivan’s house, involved inappropriate touching.
The girl reportedly told authorities the incidents had been going on since she was a toddler. In his statement to authorities, Sullivan said he recalled only one incident.
The girl remained silent about the crimes for many years until she received a Christmas card from the man just before Christmas 2000. The card, lawmen believe, prompted the girl to talk about the past incidents with a relative.