Man gets 25 years in child rape case

By Jessica Musicar, Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 02, 2008 | 11 comment(s)

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COQUILLE - Richard G. Talbert shared no words of remorse at the Coos County Courthouse on Monday — not for the child he sexually abused or her family members who cried in the back of Judge Martin Stone’s courtroom.

Instead, the 24-year-old North Bend man stood in silence as District Attorney R. Paul Frasier read a biting letter from the family moments before Stone condemned him to 25 years at an Oregon penitentiary. A former friend of the family, Talbert pleaded guilty to first-degree unlawful sexual penetration on Nov. 21.

Arms and legs shackled, the heavy-set man in glasses and a blue Coos County jail jumpsuit hunched his shoulders as the family’s victim statement, read aloud by Frasier, labeled him a monster.

“You took her innocence from her. You took her security from her in her own home and in the worst way,” Frasier read. “Our daughter will never be the same.

“There is no punishment severe enough for what you have done. Nothing the courts can do to you can even begin to compare to what you have done to our child. Our only solace is that you will never have another chance to destroy another child’s life.”

Because the crime involved a child under the age of 12, Stone sentenced Talbert according to Jessica’s Law, which requires a mandatory 25-year minimum sentence. He will be ineligible for parole.

Following his stint in prison, Talbert will undergo post-prison supervision, he must register as a sex offender and will be required to report his whereabouts for the rest of his life. Additionally, he is not allowed to contact the girl or her immediate family.

Jessica’s Law was signed by Gov. Ted Kulongoski in April 2006 for adults convicted of raping, sodomizing or sexually penetrating a child under 12 years of age. It originally was created in Florida and named for Jessica Lunsford, a Florida girl who was raped and murdered in 2005 by a convicted sex offender.

Public defender John Meynink, who defended Talbert with attorney Allen Goldman, said the man also is a victim of abuse and has indicated that he’d like to receive treatment.

“This is a case where there are no winners,” Meynink said.

He noted that the defendant took responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty and confessing to Detective Milo Arnesen of the North Bend Police Department.

“The judge didn’t have any discretion for that plea. That’s the sentence that has to be imposed,” Meynink said.

North Bend police officers arrested Talbert on July 14 on charges of first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy and first-degree sexual abuse. However, Frasier pursued only the sexual penetration charge, which Talbert agreed to in a plea bargain, because it would get him the 25-year sentence without the child having to testify in court. He explained that the defense would have been unlikely to accept a longer sentence without going to trial. He added that the girl had been abused for about 12 to 18 months.

“We knew one count would mean 25 years and he would have to serve every day,” Frasier said. “I think it’s a good resolution. It’s a very sad case because obviously this little girl was victimized.”

The DA expects Talbert to be transported to an intake center in Wilsonville later this week, where he will be assigned to a prison somewhere in the state. Talbert will remain at the Coos County jail in the meantime.

After the hearing a family member said it was a very emotional experience for the family, but they are relieved that the court process is over and that Talbert got his due.

“We are looking forward to her and the entire family moving on from here,” she said.

For the sake of the victim and her family, we have suspended comments on this story.
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Concerned NB Resident wrote on Dec 3, 2008 6:42 PM:

Another great job N.B.P.D.!!

Thanks for the hard work you are doing in the attempt to keep our streets and community a safer place.

My hats off to Detective Arnesen and Officer Bohannan.

HEY APPALLED wrote on Dec 3, 2008 3:18 PM:

EVERYONE DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE..EVEN THE WORST KIND OF PEOPLE

DABinLA wrote on Dec 3, 2008 2:05 PM:

"he is a wonderful man who should be allowed to have a second chance."

I read that, and laughed. In light of that statement, The Bay Area is full of wonderful men, and women. It seems to me that there are more sex offenders per capita in Coos Bay, than in Los Angeles.

I have just moved to Pasadena, and out of curiosity i typed in my adress in the state sex offender database and was surprised to find one blip within 4 miles. I typed in my old Coos Bay Address, and found several blips within 4 miles.

Friend of family wrote on Dec 3, 2008 1:52 PM:

I'm glad he got what he deserved, but 25 years isn't enough for all the pain she will go though for the rest of her life. She is a sweet little girl and her mother is my best friend i feel for them, they have gone though so much and i'm just glad it's finaly over so they can move on and she can have the life that she deserves.. I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!

APPALLED wrote on Dec 3, 2008 10:55 AM:

WISHFUL THINKING~ I AM THOROUGHLY DISGUSTED AND BLOWN AWAY AT THE THOUGHT OF THIS PERSON BEING REFERRED TO AS 'A WONDERFUL MAN'. WOW.

In Bandon wrote on Dec 3, 2008 10:30 AM:

To Wishful Thinking:
A second chance at what? The price for being a danger to society is removal from said society.
To DANNI:
Regardless of what this man endured in his life, he has become damaged. If he knows right from wrong, he deserves to be in jail. If he can't descern right from wrong, then he can't function in our society, and should be kept away from others.

dd wrote on Dec 2, 2008 6:20 PM:

25 year sentence should be for all rape not just child rape

Danni wrote on Dec 2, 2008 2:21 PM:

I definitely feel for that little girl. I was a victim of sexual abuse as a child myself. I know better than anyone what issues she will face in the future. However, I am able to feel compassion for all people. Can't help it, it's just the way I am.

comment wrote on Dec 2, 2008 1:08 PM:

so DANNI...do you feel for him because you agree with his lifestyle. He knows right from wrong - and what he has done is so wrong. he gets to sit in prison and listen to music, draw, sleep, relax without having to work and earn a living (we get to pay for his days) - while this little child will NEVER forget and will have a hard time in her future when it comes to trusting men. I am so appauled that you feel for this grown man who knows what is right and what is wrong. He deserves his time - and then some.

COOS BAY MOM wrote on Dec 2, 2008 12:49 PM:

I have a 5 year old little girl and what was done to this little one makes me nauseous. Mr. Talbert, at the least, deserves everything that he gets in the future and I suspect it will be an extremely dismall one. To the parents and family of the victim my thoughts and prayers are with you, I cant imagine someone hurting my child in that manner. Her emotional wounds will undoubtedly outlast any physical ones. Please get the help that she and your family will most certainly need to ensure that this little girl has the best future she can possible have.

Girls aunt wrote on Dec 2, 2008 12:19 PM:

Being the little girls aunt, I do say that my family feels a sense of piece knowing that he is out of our lives for 25 years. That will give us time to let my niece grow up, heal, and deal with the lifetime of pain that he has given her. I personally hope that he will feel the pain he has caused my family. Thanks to all who have supported us through this and for all of your kind words.


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