Charged with six counts of third-degree sodomy, five counts of third-degree rape and one count of violating terms of release, Cadiz man Charles “Phil” Sikes entered a plea of “guilty” to Judge Natalie White Wednesday afternoon in Trigg County Circuit Court — bringing some closure to a complicated case.
Due to state statute, he is not eligible for probation, nor is he eligible for parole until the completion of a sex offender treatment program.
White sentenced him to five years for each count, all to be concurrently served.
Sikes’ attorney, Benton’s Don Thomas, offered several mitigating statements — noting his client was a first-time offender, a former law enforcement agent in Texas and overseas, and a man of good standing.
Furthermore, Sikes entered into the record a formal objection of the “factual scenario” of the original indictment.
Thomas also hinted around the possibility of a consensual relationship that occurred between his client and the victim, but that poor research led to legal trouble.
Sikes’ wife, Faye, also sought leniency from the court — and offered an emotional open letter to litigators.
She’s known Sikes for 40 years, and said her husband of 11 years was born in Alabama of eventually divorced parents. His one older sister is Faye’s best friend, and they all met while living in Texas. She and Sikes married others and lost touch, and it’s here where Sikes served as a police officer for 16 years and constable for eight.
After 9/11, she said Sikes quit his job in College Station, Texas, and took on private security work in Iraq and Afghanistan before returning stateside after an injury.
Faye and Sikes reconnected in 2012 through Facebook, she added, and got married the same year, resided in Trigg County and spent time with her son and mother.
Now working for Bradford Heights Nursing & Rehabilitation in Hopkinsville, Faye said she’s been a registered nurse since 1991 and previously worked as a health science teacher at Trigg County High School for a decade.
It’s during this time with the district when Sikes’ charges came about.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Carrie Ovey-Wiggins reaffirmed that Sikes committed non-probatable offenses.
Sikes shook his head “no” as Ovey-Wiggins spoke.
However, Sikes did reconnect with the victim despite the order not to, and at this time remains incarcerated at the Christian County Jail.
He is next scheduled for a pretrial conference at 8:30 AM, December 18, in Calloway County Circuit Court on one count of first-degree fleeing/evading police, three counts of resisting arrest, three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer, one count of first-degree criminal mischief, one count of reckless driving and one count of third-degree assault of an officer — all stemming from a lengthy, dangerous pursuit.
