Man who repeatedly sexually abused his underage niece sentenced to 25 years in prison

Contributed photo/Courtesy of GCSO: Vance Edward Davidson, 34, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for sexual conduct with his underage niece.

By Jon Johnson

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SAFFORD – A Pima man who may have fathered a child with his underage niece has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after repeatedly sexually abusing his teenage victim over a four-year period.

Vance Edward Davidson, 34, of Pima, appeared before Graham County Superior Court Judge pro tempore Travis W. Ragland on June 25 and was sentenced to an aggravated term of 25 years in prison for one count of sexual contact with a minor, a Class 2 felony. The sentence will be imposed day for day, meaning Davidson must serve the entire 25-year sentence before being released.

Davidson had agreed to a plea deal in which the sentence was determined at the discretion of the court. Sentences ranged from 13 years of reduced sentence to 20 years of presumptive sentence to an aggravated sentence of 27 years. Graham County Prosecutor L. Scott Bennett prosecuted the case, while the defendant was represented by defense attorney Dennis McCarthy.

Davidson also pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted sexual intercourse with a minor – Class 3 felonies – and received a life sentence for both counts under sex offender supervision after his release from prison, which could be in December 2048, with credit for time already served.

Graham County Prosecutor L. Scott Bennett said the ruling should serve as a warning to anyone considering a relationship with a minor child.

“This sentence should serve as a warning to anyone who thinks it is OK to have a relationship with a minor child,” Bennett said. “It is not, and we will make an example of anyone who does. The defendant has 25 years to learn from his actions. I am very grateful to Chief Cauthen and the law enforcement of the Pima Police Department for presenting us with an excellent case, and to Judge Ragland for imposing the sentence he imposed.”

The charges related to sexual conduct between Davidson and his niece that occurred over four years between the ages of 13 and 17.

According to a Pima Police report, Davidson was caught by his wife having sexual intercourse with his underage niece in their bedroom in early December 2023.

Although the victim is Davidson’s niece, he and his wife have legal guardianship of her and consider her their daughter.

After being caught by his wife, Davidson confessed to the affair and turned himself in to Pima police, where he allegedly admitted his actions to Pima Police Chief Diane Cauthen. Davidson said he and the victim had sexual intercourse up to 100 times over the past four years and that he was likely the father of a boy she gave birth to and gave up for adoption in December 2022.