Man gets 10 years probation for child sex abuse, son suicides
By AARON DAVISAn 83-year-old man initially charged with the continuous sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14 instead plead guilty to a lesser charge and received probation in Randall County Court in Texas, on Wednesday.
Donald Floyd Seager, 83, plead guilty to the charge of lesser included aggravated sexual assault of a child and received 10 years probation. This was the second time that Seager was indicted on charges of the sexual assault of a minor.“After consultation with our victim and professionals involved in our case, it was decided that the result that was offered to Mr. Seager was the best for all parties involved,” said Robert Love, assistant district attorney for Randall County. “What the case and evidence will allow you to do, and what you would like to do, are different things.”
A 2014 court document filed by the Randall County District Attorney’s office expressed an intent to pursue charges against Seager for 29 sexually-related offenses against 11 children.
Father & son perverts
Court documents and statements claim that Donald Floyd Seager, along with his son, Ian David Seager, 59, sexually assaulted the victim, who is a family member, over a 5-year period. The statement alleges that Ian Seager would offer alcohol and drugs to the victim and Donald Floyd Seager would offer ice cream and money.
Donald Floyd Seager was indicted on two charges on Dec. 4 of 2013: Aggravated sexual assault of a child, and continuous sexual abuse of a victim younger than 14. The first charge occurred on Mar. 24, 1989, and that case against Seager was dismissed in April of 2015.
“It was just barely outside the statute of limitations and it was dismissed,” Love said.
Although normally the statute of limitations extends 10 years from when the victim turns 18, the amended statute of limitations law only came into effect in 1997. Seager’s attorney, Cristy Jo McElroy, was able to get the first dismissed since the assault happened in 1989 and the new statute of limitations did not apply. McElroy did not return multiple calls for comment.
There should be no statute of limitations for child sex abuse!
The second indictment for the continuous sexual assault of a minor under the age of 14 concerned the abuse of one victim by both Seager and his son, Ian. The son was initially indicted on five counts of sexual assault of a child and one count of indecency with a child.
“Ian (Seager) committed suicide on the evening before our trial began in 2015,” Love said.
Donald Floyd Seager’s plea deal includes 10 years probation and $1,000 fine.
“The plea bargains are the most difficult part and they are never what anybody wants,” Love said. “Unless he violates his probation or the judge revokes his probation he will not serve time.”
But surely, Mr. Love, you could have done better than that. A year or two off the streets would probably spare a child or two. Now he is on the honor system - and pedophiles don't have any honor. You have to wait until he abuses another child, and gets caught, before he gets any jail time.
Love said that Seager will have to register as a sex offender and cannot live within 1,000-feet of a school, day care or church. He cannot do drugs and has to report weekly to a community supervision officer, instead of reporting monthly, which is customary in the supervision of a sex offender, Love said. Seager must attend and complete a sex offender counseling program and cannot view any pornography. He is not allowed to go within 1,000 feet of where children gather, such as schools, pools or video arcades. He is prohibited from contacting any person under the age of 17 and cannot use the internet to access obscene material or commercial networking sites.
And, of course, he will obey all those rules because he has to call his probation officer once a week!
Seager was not listed on the sex offender registry as of Apr. 25, By the terms of his probation he must register as a sex offender within seven days of being found guilty.
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