Convicted child rapist sentenced to third life sentence

Paul Dykes pleaded guilty Feb. 13 to additional charges of rape of a child, promotion of sexual performance by a child and possession of child pornography.

By Jonathan Simmons
| 10:17 a.m. February 13, 2018

Paul Dykes is fingerprinted after entering a guilty plea during a Feb. 13 court hearing. (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)

Palm Coast Observer
News

A rapist already sentenced to two life terms in prison will not face an additional trial, although the prosecution was prepared to take additional charges before a jury.

Paul Dykes, 21, pleaded guilty Feb. 13 to three addition criminal charges the state had brought against him: rape of a child under the age of 12, promoting sexual performance by a child, and transmission of child pornography.

Judge Dennis Craig sentenced Dykes to life in prison for the child rape charge, 30 years for the charge of promoting sexual performance by. child and 15 years on the charge of possession of child pornography.

The state agreed to drop another 11 charges.

But if the charges that Dykes was convicted on during a trial in December are overturned on appeal, the guilty pleas could be withdrawn, and the state could also refile all of the charges, including the ones it dropped.

Deputies arrested Dykes when he was 18 along with a co-defendant, Erin Vickers, who was at the time 20. Vickers was convicted in September of capital sexual battery and promoting sexual performance by a child, and has already been sentenced to two life sentences.