Authorities are investigating a horrific case of sexual assault that prosecutors believe went on for half a decade.
The suspect is being held without bond at the Douglas County Jail and, this week, waived his right to a preliminary hearing. 49-year-old James Fisher is charged felony 1st degree sexual assault of a child with a prior conviction.
In February, an 11-year-old relative told investigators at Project Harmony that Fisher had been sexually assaulting her since she was 5-years-old. Court documents say he would sometimes blindfold her during the crimes. Fisher spent more than 12 years in prison for sexually assaulting another young girl, who was just 4-years-old, in 1993.
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“It’s a difficult situation. He’s obviously a dangerous person, he’s already been convicted, he is a predator I would argue at this point. And now we have new allegations, another child, another child victimized which is something that we just work to prevent when we can, and when you see this happen it’s very frustrating and disheartening,” said Deputy Douglas Co. Attorney Molly Keane.
The affidavit describes how the victim’s mother initially didn’t believe the sexual assaults could’ve happened, and it was a misunderstanding. Though she knew Fisher was a convicted sex offender she didn’t believe he would do that.
Sheryl Overby counsels mothers of sexually abused children, and says it can be very difficult for parents to process what may have happened to their child.
“It’s a terrible, terrible, terrible thing to think that somebody you love could do something so horrible,” Overby explained. “They blame themselves too frankly which creates more denial; more wanting to avoid it, don’t want to deal with it because they feel so awful.”
Because it is a 2-nd offense, Fisher faces a minimum of 25 years in prison if convicted.
“Darkness to Light” is a training program that teaches adults how to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. It’s offered at Project Harmony on April 1st, July 1st, and October 7th from 9am-11:30am. The program will be offered for free on April 15th starting at 6:30pm at Project Harmony.
Overby holds a class called “Protective Mothers” which supports women who have a relationship with someone who has been convicted or accused of a sexual crime against children. Overby says many times after a child sex assault is reported, it is the parents that need the most support. If you would like more information on “Protective Mothers” contact Lutheran Family Services at (402)-342-7007.
