Arrest Made In 20-Year-Old Tucson Sexual Assault Cold Case

TUCSON, AZ — A Prescott man has been arrested after Tucson police reopened a 2004 sexual assault investigation involving a 14-year-old girl, authorities said.

John “Lincoln” Sperry, 65, was arrested July 8 and is facing two counts of sexual conduct with a minor, according to the Tucson Police Department.

The case began in 2004 after the Department of Child Safety reported allegations that Sperry had sexually assaulted his 14-year-old foster daughter, police said.

Tucson police opened an investigation at the time, conducting interviews, serving search warrants and collecting evidence. The case was later closed.

More than 20 years later, the investigation was reopened after the victim, now in her 30s, contacted Tucson police again, according to the department.

Detectives with the Tucson Police Department’s Sexual Assault Cold Case Unit reviewed forensic evidence, conducted follow-up interviews and submitted their findings to the Pima County Attorney’s Office.

Police said an arrest warrant was later issued charging Sperry with two counts of sexual conduct with a minor.

Investigators determined Sperry was living in Prescott, where he was working as a licensed clinical social worker specializing in sex addiction treatment, according to Tucson police.

The department said it worked with Prescott police and the U.S. Marshals Service to locate and arrest him.

After his arrest, Tucson detectives traveled to Prescott and contacted Sperry there, police said. He was booked into the Yavapai County Detention Center and is awaiting extradition to Pima County.

The Tucson Police Department said the investigation remains ongoing and is asking anyone with information about the case to call 911, 88-CRIME or the department’s Sexual Assault Cold Case Unit at 520-589-8940.

Police also noted that sexual assault cases are sometimes reported years after the alleged incident and encouraged anyone wishing to report an assault to contact Tucson police at 520-837-7485.

The department thanked the Pima County Attorney’s Office, Prescott Police Department, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance.