Man in custody calls wife to ask her to dissuade sexual abuse accusers, AZ officials say
A man in jail custody on sexual abuse charges called his wife multiple times, asking her to dissuade his accusers, Arizona prosecutors say.
Now, Robert Allen Lee, 55, was given three consecutive life sentences in connection to the sexual abuse of his stepdaughter and her friend, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said in a Jan. 14 news release.
“We know this man attacked children at least twice,” County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in the release. “A sentence of 150 years ensures he will never come in contact with a child again.”
In 2021, a friend of Lee’s stepdaughter told Peoria Police he “had sexually abused her,” prosecutors said.
While he was in custody, Lee called his wife several times and asked her to intimidate the friend and her family “and to encourage his stepdaughter to lie on his behalf,” prosecutors said.
Lee’s stepdaughter then came forward and accused him of sexually abusing her when she was between the ages of 9 and 15, according to prosecutors.
Again, he called his wife while in custody and asked her “to convince his stepdaughter to lie and recant her statement,” prosecutors said.
Lee’s sentencing stems from a plethora of charges, including nine counts of sexual conduct with a minor and two counts of attempt to commit tampering with a witness, according to prosecutors.
Peoria is about a 15-mile drive northwest from Phoenix.
This story was originally published January 16, 2025 at 9:51 AM with the headline "Man in custody calls wife to ask her to dissuade sexual abuse accusers, AZ officials say."
