Assailant gets 4 life terms for attack that took woman’s limbs

BENTONVILLE — Charles Allen Rickman blamed drugs for his brutal beating and rape of a 69-yearold woman.

The woman credited her religious faith for her survival. “I would not want this to happen to anybody else,” she said.

A jury found Rickman, 31, of Gentry guilty Thursday and took only 30 minutes to recommend that he serve life sentences for aggravated residential burglary, kidnapping and two rape counts in the Oct. 3 attack on the woman in her home. In addition to the four life sentences, the jury recommended that Rickman serve 20 years and pay a $15,000 fine for a battery conviction.

Testimony during the trial revealed that Rickman attacked and blindfolded the woman before repeatedly beating and raping her over a period of more than five hours.

Benton County Circuit Judge Brad Karren followed the jury’s recommendation and ordered that the sentences be served consecutively.

In closing arguments, deputy prosecutor Carrie Dobbs urged the jury of seven men and five women to recommend life sentences for Rickman, telling them if Rickman was sentenced to 40 years in prison he could be released when he was 59 years old.

“The only way to know he

will never to do this again is to put him in a position where he can no longer do it,” Dobbs said.

Rickman didn’t show his victim any mercy, and he didn’t deserve any mercy from the jury, she said.

Rickman’s victim returned to the witness stand Thursday to share how her life is forever changed because of the attack. She lived alone before the attack and did volunteer work, took care of her lawn and traveled to other countries for missionary work. Now she will need someone’s assistance for the rest of her life.

The woman lost her arms and legs as result of the attack. She said she was in the hospital for three months and, at first, couldn’t move because she was so weak.

She spent 100 days in a rehabilitation facility and now lives in an assisted-living facility.

One woman on the jury wiped away tears as the woman testified.

Rickman’s mother testified about her son’s struggles. Neva Rickman said her son had a learning disorder, suffered from depression and had attempted to hang himself a few years ago.

“I don’t know what happened,” Neva Rickman said about the attack. “It’s totally out of character for my son.”

She also told jurors that another son’s accidental shooting death in 1999 affected Rickman and her family.

Charles Rickman told the jury that a man sexually abused him when he was 13 years old and that he first started using methamphetamine when he was a senior in high school.

Rickman said he was under the influence of methamphetamine and alcohol when he attacked the woman. He referred to the attack as “the accident” during testimony Thursday. He had made the same reference Wednesday on the witness stand.

Rickman said he wanted the jury to know he’s a kind and respectful person.

“The way I was that night was not me,” he said. “I am not like that on a regular basis.”

Rickman said he feels sorry for the woman.

Sam Hall, one of Rickman’s attorneys, asked the jury to sentence Rickman to a term of years instead of a life sentence. He encouraged jurors to remember that Rickman is a human being who committed a terrible act.

“If you have it in your heart, show Allen a little bit of mercy,” Hall told jurors. “He certainly doesn’t deserve it.”