LEONARDTOWN, MD – A 79-year-old man from Chesapeake, Virginia, received a 20-year prison sentence December 30, 2025, for sexually assaulting a 7-year-old child in St. Mary’s County during 1981 and 1982.
State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced the sentencing of Cecil John Dunlap in Circuit Court. The assaults took place at Dunlap’s home on Star Route Fox 81, an address later renamed Black Creek Road, in the Tall Timbers/Valley Lee area. At the time, Dunlap’s wife worked as a prominent schoolteacher in the local community and provided private tutoring sessions at their residence. The victim accompanied her brother to one such session and became the target of the abuse. The Dunlap family also lived as close neighbors to the victim and her relatives, creating a setting of trust within the small Southern Maryland neighborhood.
Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Alena Moiser handled the prosecution for St. Mary’s County. Detective Allison Mattera of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation. The Honorable Joseph Stanalonis presided over the proceedings.
Maryland sentencing guidelines for the offenses recommended a range of 18 to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors requested the upper limit of 20 years. The court imposed that full term, structured as 20 years total with 15 years of active incarceration. The remaining portion is suspended. Dunlap also faces lifetime supervision as a sexual offender and must register on the sex offender registry for life under Maryland law.
Sterling highlighted details of the case in a statement. “The Defendant served in the military and frequently relocated throughout the country for his military service. He was previously convicted of sexually assaulting two children in Virginia in the 2010s,” she said. “For over 40 years the Defendant lived without consequence for the crimes he committed against a 7-year-old-child in St. Mary’s County. Thanks to the bravery of this victim, the Defendant was subsequently located, prosecuted, and brought to justice.”
The delayed reporting and prosecution reflect challenges common in historical sexual abuse cases, where victims may come forward decades later due to increased awareness, changes in statutes of limitations, or personal readiness. In Maryland, certain child sex offenses have no statute of limitations, allowing prosecution regardless of when the crimes occurred. This framework supported the state’s ability to pursue charges more than four decades after the incidents.
Dunlap’s prior convictions in Virginia during the 2010s for assaults against two children provided additional context during sentencing. Those earlier cases likely influenced the investigation’s direction once the St. Mary’s County victim reported the abuse. The combination of the victim’s account, investigative work by the Sheriff’s Office, and legal proceedings in Leonardtown resulted in the maximum guideline sentence.
Maryland’s sex offender registration requirements impose lifelong obligations for individuals convicted of qualifying offenses involving minors. Registrants must provide periodic updates on residence, employment, and other details to law enforcement. Failure to comply carries additional penalties. Lifetime supervision includes monitoring conditions that may restrict contact with minors and require adherence to specific rules.
This resolution closes a matter that spanned multiple decades and jurisdictions. The St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney’s Office continues to handle cases involving historical allegations, emphasizing victim support and thorough investigation. Resources for survivors remain available through local law enforcement and state victim assistance programs.