Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Vance Edward Davidson, 34, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for sexual conduct with his underage niece.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – A Pima man who may have fathered a child with his underage niece has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after repeatedly sexually assaulting his juvenile victim for four years.
Vance Edward Davidson, 34, of Pima, appeared in front of Graham County Superior Court Judge Pro Tem Travis W. Ragland on June 25 and was sentenced to an aggravated term of 25 years in prison on the single charge of sexual conduct with a minor – a class-2 felony. The sentence is day for day, meaning Davidson will have to serve the entire 25-year sentence in prison before being released.
Davidson had taken a plea deal with sentencing up to the discretion of the court. The sentencing structure ranged from a mitigated 13 years, a presumptive 20 years, and an aggravated sentence of 27 years. Graham County Attorney L. Scott Bennett prosecuted the case, with defense attorney Dennis McCarthy representing the defendant.
Davidson also pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted sexual conduct with a minor – class-3 felonies – and was given a lifetime supervised sexual offender probation on both counts upon his release from prison, which with credit for time served could be in December 2048.
Graham County Attorney L. Scott Bennett said the sentence should serve as a warning to those considering starting a relationship with an underage child.
“This sentence should serve as further notice to anyone who may think it is ok to have a relationship with an underage child,” Bennett said. “It is not and we will absolutely make an example of anyone who does. The defendant will have 25 years to learn from his actions. I am very grateful for Chief Cauthen and the Pima Police Department law enforcement who brought us an outstanding case and for Judge Ragland who imposed the sentence he did.”
The charges stemmed from sexual conduct by Davidson and his niece that occurred ongoing for four years between the ages of 13 – 17.
According to a Pima Police report, Davidson was caught by his wife having intercourse with his juvenile niece in her bedroom in early December 2023.
While the victim is Davidson’s niece, he and his wife have guardianship over her and they consider her their daughter.
After being caught by his wife, Davidson confessed to the affair and turned himself in at the Pima Police Department, where he allegedly admitted his actions to Pima Police Chief Diane Cauthen. Davidson said he and the victim had intercourse up to 100 times over the past four years and that he was likely the father to a boy she gave birth to in December 2022, who they gave up for adoption.
