Published: November 11, 2009 06:23 pm      

“Outcry” could lead to life in prison for BC man

A 12-year-old girl had finally had enough when she made an “outcry” to school officials following years of allegedly being molested by a Bridge City man.

Douglas Ray Boehm, 49, remains in the Orange County Jail on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child. His bond is set at $1.5 million. He is accused of assaulting three girls under the age of 12.

One of the victims, who is now 12 years old, told detectives, about one month prior to the outcry she rode home with Boehm from a football game to her house. As they pulled into the driveway, Boehm reportedly began touching her inappropriately. The girl said she jumped out of the truck and ran to the back door of her house to get away from Boehm. She added, he allegedly chased after her and grabbed her arm and once again began touching inappropriately, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

But, this was not the first time he had reportedly touched her in that way nor was she his only victim. Boehm is a registered sex offender which resulted in a 1992 conviction from a charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child because he sexually assaulted his 6-year-old daughter. He was placed on 10 years probation for the offense. After about five years into his sentence, he quit reporting to his probation officer and discontinued the meetings. Shortly after he was married in 1998, his probation was revoked and he served 180 days in the Orange County Jail for probation violation, according to the probable cause affidavit.

The girl’s younger sisters and herself went to the same local church as Boehm. He operated the church sound system along with their father on Sunday mornings. Boehm is also a family member by marriage, according to the affidavit.

The pastor of the Orange church declined to comment on the case.

The 12-year-old girl and her younger sisters began spending the night and going to his house in 2005 while his wife was at work. Boehm seized the opporunty to take pictures of the girls while his wife was away. He would have them dress up in various outfits and pose in different positions, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Boehm gave a full written confession to detectives. Boehm also admitted to being in possession of child pornography on his home computer. Boehm’s computer has been seized by detectives and child pornography charges are pending a computer forensic examination, according to information from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

It was during this time, Boehm reportedly became “sexually aroused and began having fantasies” and would follow through with his desires by reportedly touching the girls inappropriately, according to the affidavit.

Boehm while talking to an investigator stated “it was difficult for him to remember specific dates because of the number of times” he sexually molested the girls. However, he, “estimated over the cause of the last four years, he had sexually molested” one girl, “about 100 times” and the younger girl “approximately 150 times,” according to the probable cause affidavit.

Because of Jessica’s law, Boehm could face a life sentence if he is found guilty.

Jessica’s law was originally created in Florida when 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford was kidnapped, raped and murdered in February 2005 by a previously convicted sex offender. Public outrage over the case spurred legislators to pass legislation to protect children from such predators.

However, at one time, some states had a law which allowed sex offenders to be sentenced to death.

In a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law in June 2008 which allowed the death penalty in cases where the rape victim was a child. The court found that the death penalty when applied to child rape cases violated the Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment, according to the Associated Press.

“The death penalty is not a proportional punishment for the rape of a child,” Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in his majority opinion. His four colleagues joined him in voting against the death penalty, while four more justices dissented, the AP reported.

Texas is one of five states that allowed the death penalty for child rapists. Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas allow executions only if the defendant has previously been convicted of raping a child.

In Texas, a child rape occurs when a child is younger than 14.

“Under this new law, if a sex offender receives the minimum 25 year sentence, they will do it day for day,” John Kimbrough, Orange County District Attorney, said during a previous interview. “Also under this law, offenders convicted a second time can receive life without parole.”

Anyone with any information or if they feel they are a victim in this case or any others is asked to call EasTex Crime Stoppers at 409-724-TIPS. Information received could earn the person a cash reward and they can remain anonymous.



Debby Schamber is a reporter for the Orange Leader. She can be reached at 409-883-3571 ext. 2609 or at dschamber@orangeleader.com.