Man sentenced to 248 years for sex crimes

PALMER — An Idaho man who abused his stepdaughters for more than a decade will likely die in state custody following a Wednesday sentencing.

Judge Gregory Heath sentenced Anthony Gilliam, 53, of Idaho, to 248 years in prison with 30 suspended, leaving 218 years to serve. Even with time off for good behavior, Gilliam wouldn't be eligible for release until the middle of the next century.

A jury convicted Gilliam of 22 counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor and three counts of coercion in September 2015 after a trial. According to the charges, Gilliam strangled one of the two girls — who were aged 11 and 8 when the abuse began — in order to force the other to have sex with him. Gilliam also made one girl videotape him having sex with the other, according to attorneys. Gilliam began assaulting the girls in 2001 in Alaska and stopped in 2007 in Idaho. The girls reported the crimes to Alaska State Troopers in May 2014, prompting an investigation and Gilliam’s extradition to Alaska.

Prosecutor Melissa Wininger-Howard and public defender Bruce Brown both openly acknowledged that the presumptive sentencing range for Gilliam’s offenses was likely longer than the remainder of his natural life.

“He’s never going to get out, even with minimum sentences,” Brown said.

Such a lengthy sentence could encourage sex offenders to kill victims rather than leave witnesses, Brown argued during the defense portion of the sentencing. The damage caused by Gilliam’s actions was also limited to the psychological, Brown said.

“I myself am a father of girls,” he said. “If somebody were to ask me ‘Which would you rather have, your girls raped or your girls’ eyes poked out or their arms pulled off or acid burning their face?’ I would say ‘Let them be raped,’ because they can heal, and psychological healing could be done. You can’t put back organs.”

Gilliam’s crimes were among the worst such offenses tried in the Palmer District Court in her eight years as a prosecutor, Wininger-Howard said. Gilliam’s actions had forced each daughter’s participation in assaults against the other, but the girls had risen above his crimes.

“How these two girls were able to continue their relationship as sisters I think speaks volumes to them and the people they’ve become despite what he put them through growing up,” she said.

One victim described a childhood without joy, along with resentment and self-loathing that led to thoughts of suicide. During her victim impact statement, she repeatedly wished Gilliam would confess and die, but said she would reject any apology.

“People like you should rot in the furthest place in hell,” she said. “You don’t know what love is. Love is not raping two little girls and hoping that one of them will love you.”

Gilliam’s convictions constitute only a small part of his total crimes, she said.

“I bet, in 12 years, you raped us both about 400 times,” she said. “To me it felt like 4,000 times.”

The effects of Gilliam’s crimes linger on, the victim said.

“I fear the dark, I fear my dreams,” she said.

Gilliam apologized for his actions in a prepared allocution statement, which he read through sobs and sniffles.

“The DA is making me out to be some kind of monster,” he said. “She’s saying I can’t change. But even the greatest offenders have a chance to redeem themselves.”

Gilliam said he’d already begun to take classes while incarcerated with the goal of self-improvement.

“It has crushed me to see them appear on the stand, hurting and in pain like that,” he said. “It just tore my heart out.”

Heath ultimately agreed that Gilliam was among the worst offenders.

“What the state has argued, and really what the facts represent, is that these kids lived a living nightmare,” he said.

Heath also praised the victims for coming forward in the case.

“In my courtroom, I don’t think I have ever witnessed as much courage as you guys demonstrated in this case,” he said, directly addressing them. “You’re amazing young ladies. Do not give up hope, and do not let your past steal from you your future. You have the opportunity to still live a healthful, full life. Be proud of what you did. You spoke the truth.”

Contact reporter Brian O’Connor at 352-2270, brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com, or on Twitter @reporterbriano.