Durango man who sexually abused two children is sentenced to prison – The Durango Herald

Judge and prosecutor say Cody Coley received a lenient sentence because of his children’s forgiveness

A Durango man who was arrested on suspicion of aggravated incest and pleaded guilty to two counts of assault was sentenced last week to 180 days in jail and an intensive sex offender probation sentence of 10 years to life.

Cody Coley, 43, was arrested in January after his victims reported sexual assaults that occurred sometime in March 2018.

The victims told authorities that Coley forced them to perform sexual acts on him when they were children, under the guise that the act was “educational.”

In an earlier court hearing, prosecutors said Coley repeatedly committed emotional and sexual abuse. Coley and his defense attorney said he was drunk each time the inappropriate behavior occurred.

District Judge Anthony Baca said defendants who confess to crimes like Coley’s typically receive long prison sentences. The reason for Coley’s lenient sentence was the compassion shown by his victims, the judge and prosecutor said.

“It is the unique attitude of the (victims) at the center of this case that they are somewhat lenient,” said District Attorney Justin Pierce. “To be clear, it is not my mercy that the defendant does not receive a lengthy prison sentence.”

Coley’s father Bruce read the victims’ words aloud.

“They told me they weren’t afraid of (Coley) and they didn’t hate him,” Bruce Coley said. “They told me they still love (Coley) and they want him to be a part of their lives going forward.”

After their son was led away in handcuffs, Coley’s parents spoke to a reporter outside the courtroom.

“It was truly an alcohol-related crime,” said Bruce Coley. “Without the alcohol, he would not have had the inclination to act the way he did. He simply succumbed to evil.”

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