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Former civil rights leader sentenced to 15 years for incest
A few days ago, the Rev. James Luther Bevel was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which has spread to his liver. He was given six weeks to six months to live.
On Oct. 15, Loudoun County Circuit Court Judge Burke McCahill assured that Bevel, 71, would likely spend his remaining days in prison by sentencing him to 15 years in prison for incest.
In April, a jury convicted the former civil rights leader of incest for having sex with one of his daughters in Leesburg when she was a teenager in the 1990s. The jury recommended Bevel serve 15 years in prison and pay a $50,000 fine.
McCahill affirmed the jury's recommendation during official sentencing Wednesday.
Before the sentence was handed down, Bevel was given the opportunity to speak. During that time, he indicated that he had not gotten a fair trial because he wasn't given the chance to convey his scientific theories and teachings and be cross-examined on them.
Bevel indicated that he will appeal the court's decision.
“I can't say that I've had a trial,” he said.
During testimony, Aaralyn Mills, the daughter Bevel committed incest with, described the entire case as “an emotional roller coaster.”
She said there have been extreme highs, like having the opportunity to meet and get to know several of her sisters she had never met, giving birth to her daughter two weeks before the trial in April and celebrating her 30th birthday Oct. 14.
But she also said there were extreme lows in “confronting a person I truly admire.”
Mills said that she believed something good would come from everything that has happened, but now she is doubting that.
“In my wildest dreams, I never imagined [my father] would lie,” Mills said, speaking of how he has denied having sex with her. “That shattered in my mind that last beacon that he is a great man.”
Mills also said that she has had her life threatened and been called all kinds of names for going to the police about her father's illegal actions against her.
Court documents show that four of Mills' sisters have also alleged similar crimes against them committed by Bevel, who has 16 children.
Now, Mills is trying to mend her family, as is her mother, Helen Edmond.
“[This has] caused a lot of division in the family,” Edmond said during the sentencing hearing. “Unfortunately there has not been a lot of ability to come together.”
Bevel was the only witness his attorney, Bonnie Hoffman, called on to testify.
During his testimony, Bevel talked about his illness and some things he needs to take care of before he dies.
“I need to do some reconciling with my family,” he said.
When cross-examined by Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Gigi Lawless about that statement, Bevel failed to admit he had harmed Mills and would not apologize to her.
“I don't say I'm sorry,” Bevel said. “That's for playboys and prostitutes. ... If I made a mistake, I need to correct that mistake.”
While sentencing Bevel, McCahill acknowledged how Bevel had a “tremendous opportunity to reach out” to his family during the sentencing and apologize.
“I'm sad you did not take advantage of that,” McCahill said.
McCahill also spoke against Bevel's testimony, saying that when a problem exists between two people, both of them contribute to that problem.
“Mr. Bevel, you are the problem,” McCahill said. “Your daughter is harmed for life.”
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