Emma Kennedy

ekennedy@pnj.com

A 58-year-old Pensacola man - who told investigators child molesters are treated unfairly - was sentenced to life in prison after an Escambia County jury found him guilty Thursday.

Dudley Allen Hicks had faced one count of sexual battery on a victim under 12 after he admitted to authorities he had molested a child from the age of 2 until she was 8.

Hicks had admitted to his court-ordered psychologist that he had sexual contact with the child for roughly six years, and during that time he bathed with her and conducted sexual acts on her.

During that conversation, Hicks said he thinks child molesters are treated unfairly, and that “a lot of love is involved” when he had sexual contact with the victim. He said he had a pattern of sexual encounters with underage girls – including having an 8-year-old girlfriend at the age of 16 and a 13-year-old girlfriend at the age of 17 – and he said he had always been attracted to young girls.

Hicks told authorities that he is a sovereign citizen and the laws don’t apply to him.

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Investigators with Escambia County Sheriff’s Office interviewed the victim, who confirmed what Hicks had told the psychologist.

Hicks’ trial lasted only one day, and the jury returned the verdict of guilty by about 5:30 p.m. He was immediately sentenced to life in prison for the charge, which is a capital felony.