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WALLACE, Idaho (AP) — A man who raped and stabbed his 12-year-old daughter and left her for dead has been sentenced to two life prison terms without chance of parole after she read an angry statement to him in court.
John Rollins Tuggle pleaded guilty to rape and kidnapping with a deadly weapon, taking responsibility and sparing the victim from the ordeal of a trial, First District Judge Fred Gibler said at Monday's sentencing. "Other than those two things, its hard to find anything positive to state about Mr. Tuggle," Gibler said.
Tuggle's daughter, who has changed her last name, looked directly at him as she read a letter to him in court, saying she was determined to overcome the loss of her innocence.
"You left me to die and for that you do not deserve life," she said. "I will remove your actions from my mind, as I've already removed you from my heart."
The attack happened last July when Tuggle, 37, was visiting his former wife and children in Athol after completing a nine-year prison term for the rape of his ex-wife's 13-year-old sister, who became pregnant.
Tuggle, who had pleaded with his ex-wife for reconciliation, was allowed to spend time alone with their daughter, Shoshone County Prosecuting Attorney Michael F. Peacock said.
Tuggle took the girl into a wooded area July 20, tied her up under the pretext of showing her how to play a prank on her brother, then raped her at knifepoint, Peacock said.
He stabbed her in the throat, breast and abdomen, then cut the ropes from her hands and sat and smoked two cigarettes while the girl lay bleeding.
Campers later heard the girl crying for help. Tuggle was arrested a week later when he wandered out of the woods looking for food.
The girl was released from the hospital July 30. | 
