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Ex-stepfather sentenced to 61 years in prison after sex abuse of stepson in Oklahoma County
(Editor's note: This article contains descriptions of child sexual abuse that some readers may find disturbing.)
A 42-year-old man was sentenced to 61 years in prison after an Oklahoma County jury found him guilty of sexually abusing his former stepson when he was below the age of 16.
Dusty Dean Kitchko was convicted April 23 of several felonies, including one count of first-degree rape, two counts of lewd acts with a child, two counts of forcible oral sodomy, and one count of a pattern of criminal offenses. Jurors recommended that Kitchko receive 25 years for each of the indecent counts, five years for the rape count, and two years for each of the other three counts.
According to a pre-sentencing investigative report, Kitchko showed no remorse during interviews with police. He told investigators he was not guilty of the charges against him and that the accusations had been made by his ex-wife because of what he described as a bad breakup.
"Kichko (sic) does not have a criminal background that reflects a pattern of sexual criminal behavior or a background of being sexually abused himself," an investigating officer wrote. "(He) was cooperative with the investigation and interview; however, (he) did not take accountability for the crimes in which he has been charged. He denied committing the crime and continued to state that it was because of his ex and their relationship ending badly."
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In November 2022, the Edmond Police Department received a report of a possible rape, Emily Ward, a spokeswoman, told The Oklahoman. Ward also said further abuse was alleged to have occurred from 2015 to 2019.
According to a probable cause affidavit written by an Edmond detective, the victim revealed information about physical and sexual abuse from his ex-stepfather, Kitchko, while he was receiving treatment at the Utah-based Eagle Ranch Academy, a therapeutic boarding school for troubled teens.
Police in St. George, Utah, interviewed the boy in January 2023, where he detailed multiple incidents of abuse. These included a trip to Lake Texoma during which Kitchko allegedly touched the boy inappropriately and forced the boy to touch his body parts, as well, according to the affidavit. After arriving at the family lake cabin, Kitchko also allegedly raped the boy, as detailed in the affidavit.
The stepson further alleged Kitchko also inappropriately touched him when they would ride around Oklahoma County, according to the affidavit.
Investigators wrote that these incidents occurred when the stepson was between the ages of 8 and 10 years old.
Kitchko did not return the Edmond detective's phone calls until April 2023. When questioned at the Edmond Police Department in May 2023, Kitchko admitted he took the boy to the lake cabin but denied the accusations against him, according to the affidavit. A week later, a polygraph examination of Kitchko indicated deception, the detective wrote.
Michael Noland and Todd Adler, attorneys for Kitchko, had no comment after the jury found him guilty April 23. Kitchko was remanded into Oklahoma County sheriff custody and was formally sentenced May 29.
Assistant District Attorneys Charlie DeWitt and Michele McElwee acknowledged the case had been difficult emotionally but said they appreciated the jury's verdict.
"This was a really hard case, and we're really glad that we got justice for him," Dewitt told The Oklahoman.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Man found guilty by Oklahoma County jury in sexual abuse of stepson
