Victim after victim addressed the large audience in the Shelby Circuit Court Friday during the sentencing hearing for Steven Ray Hessler. 

Hessler was given 50 years on each of 19 counts by Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Trent Meltzer.  Meltzer called the crimes horrific and monstrous while admitting he didn’t have the right words to describe them.  Six of the counts will run concurrently equating to an aggregate of 650 years in prison.  Shelby County Prosecutor Brad Landwerlen had requested 420 aggregate years.

Hessler was convicted after an 8-day jury trial of two counts of rape, six counts of unlawful deviate conduct, seven counts of burglary resulting in bodily injury, three counts of criminal deviate conduct, and one count of robbery – each as a Class A felony.  The charges stem from a series of home-invasion sexual assaults from 1982-1985.

The victims spoke to anxiety, depression, physical ailments, impacted relationships and more that Hessler’s assaults left on their lives and the lives of family members over nearly 40 years.  One victim spoke of sending her son away to live with his father because she felt she couldn’t keep him safe.  Several spoke of the fear that never left their lives.  Fear of a family member walking up behind them that they didn’t realize was there.  Others explained not being able to be home alone, having windows that were open and having their decisions today, decades later, impacted by the memory of their fateful run-in.

The Shelby County Prosecutor’s Office met with the media after spending time talking with and answering questions of the victims and family.  Landwerlen was asked about potential unaccounted victims.

Hessler remained quiet throughout the sentencing hearing.  He occasionally spoke with his attorney or replied to questions from Judge Meltzer.  He declined an opportunity to speak and didn’t look at victims who testified even when they called for him to.