A former border vigilante convictedof sex crimes against a child has been sentenced to 19-and-a-half years in prison.
Wearing jail stripes and shackles, Chris Simcox declined to speak Monday during his sentencing hearing for two counts of sexual molestation and one count of giving pornography to a girl who was 5-years-old at the time.
The prosecutor and the victim’s mother, Michelle Lynch, wanted the founder of the Minuteman group to serve consecutive terms for molestation. The judge decided the sentences will be concurrent.
The victim just turned 9 years old, Lynch said. The girl has received counseling, but hasn't wanted to talk about what happened.
"She’ll work through it however it is that she needs to," Lynch said. "And I’m going to be there to help her through that. And if he appeals, I’ll be back at this courthouse."
The judge gave Simcox credit for more than three years of time served. The former elementary school teacher and senate candidate turns 56 years old in November.
