Nome man sentenced to 100 years in prison for sexual abuse of minors over decades

Robert O'Connor, 73, was sentenced Monday June 3 to 100 years in prison, including 40 years suspended, for sexually abusing eight victims between 1990 and 2022.
O'Connor was arrested in January 2023 after several victims came forward to report sexual abuse by O'Connor.
Initial charging documents listed five victims and 22 charges, 16 of which were unclassified felonies of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, two charges of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor and two charges of second-degree sexual assault degree. .
Since initial court documents were filed with the court on January 27, 2023, three additional victims have been identified.
In April 2024, O'Connor changed his plea to guilty on five counts, admitting guilt to first- and second-degree sexual abuse of eight minor victims for a total of 100 years in prison, 40 of which were suspended .
Present in Judge Romano DiBenedetto's courtroom were assistant prosecutor Ashly Crockett, defense attorney Lars Johnson, Nome police chief and case investigator William Crockett, the attorney for the victims Sharon Sparks and an NPD officer.
O'Connor was on the phone from Goose Creek Correctional Facility.
A survivor of O'Connor's abuse was on the phone to provide a statement.
She blamed decades of abuse on the community. “This court and this community have failed us,” she said. “This has been going on for over 30 years. And a lot of people knew it and didn't say anything. At Girl Scout functions, school functions, or church functions, where he was “forgiven” every Sunday. And no one said or did anything. He was a known sex offender and he was still allowed to be around these kids.
She went on to say that her heart breaks for her children who won't know what an amazing place Nome could be, but that the tolerant community has not only ruined it for her but for future generations. She said she would never come back. “I hope you never see the light of day again,” she said, addressing O’Connor.
Assistant DA Crockett addressed the court saying this was a really important case. “This is significant considering the number of charges the defendant faced, 22 counts of child sexual abuse and adult sexual assault in our community here in Nome. This is significant in that the conduct alleged in this case, and to which the defendant pleaded guilty, spans decades, decades of abuse against children and against adults here in our community.
She said that in 1988, O'Connor was convicted and sentenced of sexual abuse of a four-year-old minor in the second degree. He was released shortly afterwards. In 1990, O'Connor began abusing children in the community, almost immediately after being convicted of one count of child abuse against a four-year-old child, Crockett said. The accusations span decades between the 1990s and 2022, when a sexual assault of an adult was reported. “This latest accusation of sexual assault is what prompted many people to finally begin speaking out against what had been happening in this community for decades at the hands of this accused. But when one person came forward, then a second came forward, then a third came forward and finally the silence was broken and people were actually talking about the things they had experienced and suffered during decades in the hands of this individual.
Crockett went on to say O'Connor abused his authority as an adult, as a taxi driver with access to vulnerable adults. Speaking to abuse survivors, Crockett acknowledged their courage in coming forward. “The eight victims named in this complaint and whose charges are being heard in court today are incredibly courageous women. They are strong, they are courageous, they showed up. Some of them after decades of silence, others after recently learning of the abuses committed against them. But it really took a lot of courage for them to do that, for them to talk about it, for them to believe that their stories and their accounts of what happened to them would be believed, that it would be taken seriously by the police. by the prosecution and the courts.
The defendant, she said, accepts responsibility by accepting the 100-year sentence, with 40 years suspended, leaving 60 years to serve and a ten-year probation period. “This sentence, for a 70-year-old individual, is essentially a life sentence,” she said.
The defense did not present any witnesses to make a statement. The defense lawyer said O'Connor had genuine regret and remorse for what he had done. In a brief statement, O'Connor said in a trembling, whiny voice: “I truly realize what a horrible, horrible person I have become since I was a young boy.” I'm really sorry for everything I've done. And I accept my life from this day on. THANKS.”
Judge DiBenedetto explained that the sentence was the result of an agreement between the State and the defendant. “There’s nothing I can do from the bench to restore the tragedy that happened here,” he said. “I can't really do more than just acknowledge all the victims who are listening to me and what they've been through. The sentence certainly reflects the reaffirmation of societal values ​​and community condemnation, as it is a substantial prison sentence that is imposed. This is important because unfortunately sex crimes in the community are a problem.”
At the end of the sentencing, the judge asked the prison guard by telephone to take O'Connor's fingerprints.
Nome Police Chief Crockett said after the sentencing that sexual abuse was not just a crime against the victim. “This is a crime against all of us,” he said. “This affects our communities, our society, and we must draw red lines. We have to say that it is not good, that it is bad. If you cross this line, you will be held responsible. Crockett also said there could be other victims. “There could very well be additional victims,” he said. “It might have been too difficult to come forward to tell their story, but I hope they see that some justice was served and that he was held accountable for his actions and his actions.” So even though they haven't come forward, we hope that there can be some degree of healing through this process.