Man Uses Sleepwalking Defense In Child Molestation Trial

Last Edited: Wednesday, 07 May 2008, 9:30 PM EDT
Created: Wednesday, 07 May 2008, 9:30 PM EDT

Justin Cox says he was sleepwalking when he allegedly molested a 12-year-old girl. (MyFoxOrlando) From MyFoxOrlando Reports


ORLANDO -- A Florida man accused of child abuse took the stand in his own defense Wednesday and told the jury that he was sleepwalking (video: MyFoxOrlando) when the incident occurred.

Justin Cox, 28, said he can’t remember what happened on the night of May 20, 2006, when he allegedly molested a 12-year-old girl while staying at a relative's house.

Cox admitted waking up on the couch beside the little girl, but he said he was sleepwalking and had no idea how he got there or what happened.

"I woke up, I came to or whatever, I realized I was on the couch," Cox told the jury. "It took me a second because I was like in shock or whatever."

Cox said he's been sleepwalking since he was a child. His mother took the stand shortly after and said it's a disorder that runs in the family.

"My dad sleep walks still to this day," the mother said. "I don't anymore. I only slept walk as a child and they had to keep locks on the doors to keep me from going out of the house."

Prosecutors aren't buying the sleepwalking excuse. They point out that Cox has never been diagnosed with a sleeping disorder and he was drinking heavily that night with his friends.

If convicted, Cox could face a maximum of 15-30 years in prison.

Hmm...

I don't buy it either, but you never know.

It's sad nonetheless, that the little girl had to go through that ><

Some people will say anything to avoid taking responsibility for their actions.

Maybe I could sleep walk over to his house and beat him senseless! If anyone gets close to my kids, they will never be found. :-)

shameful - most suffer from the twasnt me syndrome.

Poor girl... It is indeed sad that she had to go through that. Let's all wish her the best, and send some prayers her way.
As for the guy... here are his choices then:

1. Register as a sex offender and pay for medical treatment for his sleeping disorder.

2. Admit that he doesn't have a sleeping disorder (if he doesn't)... pay the fines for perjury and his offense... maybe spend a little time in jail and register as a sex offender.

3. Provide absolute proof of his sleeping disorder and pay for medical treatment.

2 is the cheapest option... and the most ethical if he does not have a sleeping disorder. 1 is probably the option he will end up taking.
Personal opinion... he gets to sleep at night cuffed to his bed, and someone trustworthy (maybe his mom) has the key. Any further incidents of sleepwalking and abuse they both go to jail for a good long time.

I don't get the attraction, why do people molest kids? They have nothing to offer, they are like tadpoles. Why don't we have more strict laws on this, jail does nothing, I say bring out the cain.

He is definitely full of it. I hope he gets the maximum punishment.

I fell sorry for him as much as the girl, 4 someone 2 lash out sexually in such a sick way is a sure sign that he himself was certaily molested

Hmmm how bout option 4 he sleeps handcuffed to his bed face down everynight and a 600 lb man comes in and "sleepwalks his way into his pants" or option 5.. I go over sit outside his room and the second I think he's "sleepwalking" I shoot him and claim he startled me both in the event he has no sleeping dissorder

I don't know... I like the cuffed to the bed at night by mom option... "Mommy! I need to use the restroom" for the rest of his life!

HAHA well we could always make it bubba.. his 600 lb bf lol

No it's not. If the only people who molested were people who were molested in the past, then there would be no child molestors.

And his last name is Cox

I have a tendency to sleepwalk and shoot child molesters.

I don't remember a thing though.

It has recently been discovered that child molesters have something (some sort of flaw) in their brain that causes them to do that and that some can't help themselves. Does anyone know anything about that? I saw it recently on some television show. Special victims unit or something, and also on a news program.

JB

yes a lack of respect and decency

I have a cure for the flaw in the brain, it's a 45 cal 180 grain hollow point traveling at 1000 feet per second, applied between the eyes.

I like this idea the best...