Man who let his daughter be abused gets probation, 'no contact' order

ELYRIA — A North Ridgeville man who allowed his daughter to suffer what the victim's mother called "heinous atrocities" at the hands of his girlfriend until police and children services got involved three years ago will have no contact with the child for at least five years. David Hickin, 36, pleaded guilty to endangering children in October. As part of a negotiated plea, he was to receive five years probation, the maximum allowed on the third-degree felony charge. Lorain County Common Pleas Judge James Miraldi imposed that sentence Thursday during a brief court hearing. Miraldi warned Hickin he could go to prison for up to 36 months if he violates court orders, which include finding and keeping a full-time job, doing community work service that doesn't involve contact with children, drug and alcohol testing and treatment if necessary, a mental health evaluation and mandatory anger management classes. He may not leave the state without his probation officer's written permission and was ordered not to have contact with his daughter by any means for at least five years. He also was ordered to pay court costs and up to $1,200 in probation supervision fees over the next five years. The mother of the victim agreed to the sentencing deal. During a victim impact statement Thursday, she said her daughter suffered at the hands of Hickin and his girlfriend. Hickin has "never come close" to taking full responsibility for his actions, showing remorse or "apparent concern" for his daughter, who needs "constant affirmation" that she is loved and safe from him, the mother said. Hickin and his girlfriend, James "Jamie" Collins, were arrested after an investigation by police and Lorain County Children Services found that Collins abused Hickin's 3-year-old daughter from another relationship. Hickin had custody of the girl for about six months in 2016, which is when the abuse occurred. According to police and prosecutors, Collins picked the girl up by the hair and dragged her around their house until the girl's hair came out in clumps. She slammed the child into a table, knocking out a tooth, held her head underwater during baths and twisted the girl's arm so hard it broke. The couple then lied to family and said the girl had been harming herself, but Collins' own daughters later told authorities they saw Collins abuse the victim daily for almost six months. The victim had a broken arm, missing patches of hair and bruises all over her body when she was seen at a hospital on Sept. 24, 2016. Collins claimed the girl had fallen down some stairs but also admitted spanking her with a large plastic spoon. The victim's mother told Miraldi her daughter still bears physical and emotional scars of Collins' abuse. She frequently asks her mother "for a new dad" and fears that Hickin might show up and take her away from her mother. Miraldi sentenced Collins to 26 years in prison last December after she pleaded guilty to felonious assault, endangering children and domestic violence. Now 36, her prison term expires in 2044, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. Miraldi told the victim's mother her statement to the court was "very articulate and well-stated" and said "I wish this hadn't happened," he said. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com. Follow him at @daveobrienCT on Twitter.