Prosecutor wants lengthy prison terms for serial sexual predator dad (Edmonton, Canada)

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http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Prosecutor+wants+lengthy+prison+terms+sexually+abused+kids/6681118/story.html


Prosecutor wants lengthy prison terms for man who sexually abused kids

By Ryan Cormier, edmontonjournal.com May 25, 2012

EDMONTON - A serial predator convicted of more than a decade of sexual abuse against his own children and others should serve 20 years in prison for his crimes, court heard Friday.

The 41-year-old, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his victims, has been convicted of 26 charges, including sexual touching, child pornography, unlawful confinement, incest and bestiality. From 1999 to 2010, the man’s victims included his son, his daughter, the daughter of a girlfriend and two daughters of a fiancée. Four of five victims were minors.

Crown prosecutor Diane Hollinshead said the man’s crimes were planned and did not stop until he moved onto another relationship or a victim severed ties with him.

“He has a total lack of understanding of his conduct. He has a lack of empathy and remorse over 10 years of abuse,” Hollinshead told court. “This is about as serious an offender as you can get. The impact on his family has been devastating.”

As the man’s family watched from the court gallery, Hollinshead asked the court to impose a sentence of 18 to 20 years.

Defence lawyer Mark Facundo argued for a sentence of nine to 10 years.

“These facts are admittedly terrible facts,” he said. “No matter how abhorrent these facts are, we are not here for revenge.”

The man’s daughter, now 18, told police of sexual abuse that started when she was six years old, though she didn’t recognize it as abuse until she was 11.

When the girl was 11, her father ordered her and her 10-year-old brother to have sex. Her father had sexual intercourse with her. There were numerous instances of abuse.

The man’s son, now 17, said his father often asked him to participate in sexual activity with himself and women over the years. The teen declined.

The siblings were afraid to tell anyone of their father’s crimes and both attempted suicide as a direct result of the abuse.

In victim impact statements submitted to court, the man’s son called him “sick and perverted” and said he would never again refer to him as ‘Dad.’

The children’s mother said she struggles with self-blame and questions how a father is capable of such acts.

“He has taken their innocence and they can never get that back,” she wrote. “I hope this weighs on your mind everyday. I hope you rot in Hell forever.”

From 2003 to 2008, the man was in a relationship with a woman who had a young daughter. When they were alone, the accused sexually touched the girl. More recently, the man abused two daughters of a woman he was engaged to in 2009 and 2010.

Police began investigating the man shortly after that relationship ended. They searched the man’s home and found 10,455 images and 8,355 videos of child pornography.

A sentencing decision in the case has been scheduled for June 27.