Man sent to prison for forcing girl to have sex

A 21-year-old Minden man was sentenced Monday to four years in prison for forcing a 14-year-old girl to have sex.

Cameron Cook pleaded guilty to sexually motivated coercion for the March incident.

"A crime of coercion is very serious," said District Judge Michael Gibbons. "I don't believe probation is appropriate. There are long-term consequences to the victim. You hurt somebody else. It wasn't an accident."

Cook was arrested in March after the victim said he gave her alcohol and had sex with her.

The girl said she sneaked out of her residence to meet Cook at his home. She said she wanted to watch movies, but Cook mixed her drinks and forced her to have sex, according to reports.

An allegation that he gave her cocaine was dropped after a hair test revealed no trace of drugs.

The victim's father asked for the harshest sentence possible.

"This has caused emotional and physical harm to my daughter and our family. I don't see why he should get any break whatsoever. He was 21, my daughter was 14. He should be locked up as long as possible and watched everywhere when he gets out," the man said.

Cook apologized.

"I've never been in trouble in my entire life. I try to do good. I have a daughter and a wife, and I am trying to work things out," he said. "Prison scares me. I have had a lot of time to figure out what I did wrong."

Prosecutor Tom Gregory said the incident was the girl's first sexual experience.

"He took advantage of her. Afterwards, he told her to get up, get cleaned up and get out," Gregory said.

Cook's lawyer, Tod Young, agreed with a psychological assessment of Cook's "infantile presentation."

"He can be absolutely baby-like," Young said.

"Legally, morally, his behavior was inappropriate in any fashion," Young said.

He said Cook wasn't a predator, and the crime was one of opportunity.

"This is not some guy hiding in the bushes at Lampe Park with a Snickers bar on a string," Young said. "This is not an incident where he lured her from her parents' home."

In fact, Young said, the victim called Cook the next day and asked him to take her to a party which he refused.

Gibbons said Cook must serve 18 months before he is eligible for probation and gave him credit for 179 days served. He must register as a sex offender.