Two men charged with child sex crimes to go to trial this March

Paul Dykes, 21, has already been convicted of 24 sex crimes against children and faces a dozen such additional charges. Bryan Loveland, 38, faces charges of raping and molesting a 12-year-old.

By Jonathan Simmons
| 2:39 p.m. January 9, 2018

Paul Dykes, 21, has already been convicted of 24 child sex crimes, and faces a dozen such additional charges. (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)

Palm Coast Observer
News

Two men charged with sex crimes against children are expected to go to trial in March.

Paul Dykes, 21, was on Dec. 6 found guilty of 24 child-sex-crime felonies and faces an additional dozen related charges that have been separated out for a second trial — even though he faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison for the first slew of convictions.

Circuit Judge Dennis Craig during a Jan. 9 pretrial hearing for Dykes suggested that his defense be ready for trial in March. Dykes’ sentencing hearing for the first two dozen charges will be Jan. 30.

Dykes was arrested when he was 18 alongside co-defendent Erin Vickers, now 23, who was at the time 20. Vickers was convicted in September of capital sexual battery and promoting sexual performance by a child.

Bryan Loveland, 38, faces charges of raping and molesting a 12-year-old girl.

He is scheduled for a pretrial on Jan. 13. His case is expected to go to trial in March.