Daughters tell of ‘hell’ in Stockton sex abuse case

Father, a former teacher, gets life in prison for crimes over 17 years

SACRAMENTO — Rodney Flucas’ victims spoke truth to their father even though they were not in the courtroom where the man who destroyed their trust was awaiting sentencing.

With prosecutor Jeremy Kelley reading the victims’ statements Tuesday afternoon, one daughter told Flucas he had “damaged and badly broken” her, another said he had put her through “hell,” and a third said she had “given God all my anger, frustration and resentment.”

Flucas — a former Stockton Unified teacher — pledged to atone after listening to his daughters’ statements. And he asked the judge for mercy. And Judge Kimberly Mueller showed none in her 15th-floor federal courtroom in Sacramento. Mueller sentenced Flucas, 50, to life without parole in prison for transportation of minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, 10 years in prison for transporting an adult daughter across state lines with intent to engage in incest and 20 years in prison for attempted witness tampering.

“It is difficult, if not impossible, to overstate the really tragic nature of the offenses,” Mueller said. “It’s fair to say (the victims) will never escape the emotional consequences.”

Tuesday’s sentencing brought to an end a trial that stretched back to late summer, when the jury handed down its guilty verdict.

Flucas’ crimes stretched back 17 years, beginning in Georgia, from which he moved his family as his behavior gained mounting scrutiny from the state’s Division of Family and Children Services.

The family moved west to Klamath Falls, Oregon, then to Stockton in 2015. Flucas, who is African-American, testified he moved his family to Stockton because the family wanted to live in a more diverse community and because teacher pay was higher.

The prosecution countered that the move to Stockton was made to stay ahead of legal trouble related to his incestuous and underage sexual activities.

Among those joining Flucas in moving to Stockton, where he taught deaf SUSD students under a contract with a private company, were two 16-year-old daughters, a 14-year-old girl who was the daughter of a family friend, and a 20-year-old daughter he had been having sex with for five years. His youngest victim was 6 years old, according to court documents. In all, court documents say Flucas fathered 10 children with victims who testified in the trial. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Flucas has admitted to fathering at least 37 children by numerous women.

“He is an undeterable child molester,” said Kelley, the prosecutor. “He has shown no remorse. The defendant is a danger to children and will remain a danger to children for as long as he lives.”

It all began to be revealed on Feb. 7, 2017, when one of Flucas’ daughters attempted suicide by driving into a lamppost in Stockton. Recovering from her suicide attempt, the daughter told others about her father’s years of criminal sexual behavior.

The victims’ written statements spoke of the pain Flucas caused his children.

“You acted as if you were my God, my significant other and my father all in one,” one statement said. “Now that you are no longer a part of my life, I am free.”

Some of the statements expressed deeply conflicting emotions.

“I still love you with all my heart,” one said. “You were my hero. I do not think of you as a monster. But it does not take away from what you did to me and my sisters . ... Deep down, I’m still the little girl who looked up to you.”

A third statement said, “I hate what you did to me. You were supposed to be my father, to protect me. Instead you took advantage of me. You put me through hell, daddy. I wish you the best and maybe I will be in contact with you.

“But I am not ready yet.”