in prison on the First-Degree Rape conviction. The sentences were ordered to run consecutively (one after the other). In addition to the prison sentences, Dickinson was ordered to pay a fine totaling $50,000. The convictions followed a two-day jury trial in October.

The testimony during the trial showed that in January of 2005, a relative of a then six-year-old female child informed officials at the child’s school that she had reason to believe that the child had been sexually molested by two males. After being contacted by school officials, an investigation was conducted by the Winston County Department of Human Resources, which was assisted by the Winston County Sheriff’s Department. The investigation revealed that the child had been molested by Dickinson on at least one occasion. It was also revealed that other female relatives of Dickinson had been molested by him over a period spanning approximately 30 years. Dickinson was indicted by a Winston County grand jury in May of 2005 and charged with the two offenses for which he was convicted. The sexual abuse charge involved the child who first reported the abuse, and the sodomy charge involved a female who was eleven years of age at the time the offense occurred.

Deputy District Attorney Neal Cook, who prosecuted Dickinson, had the following comment after the sentencing: “Now that Mr. Dickinson and his brother have been sentenced, I hope that some closure can come to their victims. Nothing will ever remove the scars they have suffered from the actions of these men, but they can take some comfort in knowing that the ones responsible for their scarring will likely never have the opportunity to scar other innocent lives. I certainly hope that the Parole Board will abide by the judge's sentence and make a life sentence truly mean a life sentence.”

Dickinson’s brother, James Marcus “Mark” Dickinson was convicted earlier this year on thirteen (13) counts of sexual molestation involving the same victims and two others. He was sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 130 years. Related Story >>>