Bay Minette, AL – A 37-year-old Elberta man was sentenced last week to two life sentences, to be served concurrently, for the 2011 rape and sexual abuse of an eight-year-old girl.

Christopher Paul Capocci was convicted in October following an August mistrial resulting from a hung jury. Under Alabama law, Capocci will now serve a minimum of 20 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole or any reduction in sentence for good behavior.

District Attorney Hallie Dixon praised Circuit Judge Jody Bishop for sentencing Capocci to the maximum allowed for the crimes. "It was the right and appropriate thing to do considering the horrific nature of his actions,” Dixon said, “and it sent an important message to the child that she was believed."

“I received a note from the victim’s mother thanking the Baldwin County District Attorney’s Office for our diligence in making sure that this man was held accountable for his actions,” said Assistant District Attorney Teresa Heinz, who prosecuted the case. “But I really credit the victim’s courage. It was hard enough for a young child to testify the first time, but to have to do it again and face her abuser twice?  I couldn’t have asked her to be any braver.”

Heinz also credited the efforts of the CARE House child advocacy center for their efforts in helping prosecute the case and the agency’s continued counseling of the victim after the trial. “They were there every step of the way,” she said.