Mexico man convicted of statutory rape sentenced to 90 years in prison

Audrain County prosecuting attorney Jacob Shellabarger announced on Friday that the Eastern District Court of Appeals issued the conviction of Dayton Durham, 37.

Durham was sentenced to 90 years in prison after he was convicted by a jury for committing statutory rape, statutory sodomy, enticement of a child, endangering the welfare of a child and child molestation.

The judge gave Durham the maximum sentence on each and all of the counts.

“This case tore a family apart and is particularly tragic and sad because the child’s own grandmother called her a liar and her family told her they didn’t believe her.” Shellabarger said. “Durham’s actions violated a family’s trust, hurt a little girl and have caused pain to our community beyond just this girl’s personal, private pain.”

Shellabarger said, “These years of abuse, prosecuted years later, have still left their scars, but a jury did the right thing and saw the truth and power in her testimony and experience.”

“I hope this case serves as a wake-up call that the private storm inside our victims may be more unspeakable than what’s known about the case, and survivors of abuse deserve to be taken seriously, understood, and not harassed about things they had no control over.”