Perryville man gets four life terms for child sodomy

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- A Perryville man was sentenced to four consecutive life terms in prison Friday for sexually abusing a girl.

Judge John Heisserer sentenced Daniel Lee Coplin, 37, in Perryville. Coplin was found guilty by a jury May 14 of four of five first-degree statutory sodomy charges. The victim, now 13, was 9 years old at the time of the abuse, which occurred in the Coplin's home. It was discovered and reported by her grandmother.

In an unusual twist, the victim's mother and older brother each testified on behalf of Coplin, Heisserer said.

The defendant was a convicted sexual offender, having previous convictions for the rape of a 6-year-old girl and the sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl, Heisserer said. Coplin also has convictions for drug and alcohol abuse. This history, along with a lack of any remorse shown by Coplin in the courtroom, led the judge to hand down the consecutive life sentences, he said.