By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 37-year-old father was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday after he admitted to molesting his twin 3-year-old daughters in 2024.
This came after he changed his plea minutes after his 16-year-old daughter wept given testimony as she recalled watching the incident.
One of the twin victims is also autistic.
Senior Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson rendered her verdict on what would’ve been the first day of the convict’s trial of two counts of indecent assault.
Prosecutors state that the convict sometime between July 1 and July 30, 2024 in New Providence rubbed the privates of one of his three-year-old daughters.
During this same time frame the convict reportedly climbed on top of one of his young daughters and gyrated up and down the child’s body.
The convict was reportedly naked in both instances.
Two police officers had already submitted their testimony in the matter and the convict’s teenage daughter had begun to submit her testimony before the defendant reversed his earlier position and pleaded guilty to charge.
The teenage witness had tears in her eyes as she recounted to the court the night she saw her father molest one of her younger siblings.
She claimed that she and her siblings all slept in the same room as her father. She said on that fateful night she saw her father naked above her young sister. She fought back tears as she said she saw her father’s hand touching her baby sister’s privates, saying “his hand was just there.”
She said that her father looked startled when he saw her looking at him.
The convict apologized for his actions. He apologized directly to his teenage daughter telling her he wasn’t mad and that he still loves her. He also apologized for what his daughter saw him do to the twins.
The victim’s mother was also present for the convict’s apology.
Sonia Timothy Knowles, the convict’s attorney, said that her client had accepted the seriousness of the offense. After acknowledging the prevalence of similar crimes in society, Mrs Knowles said that the convict did the honorable thing changing his plea to spare his daughter continuing her testimony.
In addition to his relatively early plea, Mrs Knowles stated that her client was capable of rehabilitation and had no priors.
Mrs Knowles asked for mercy on her client’s behalf and suggested a four-year prison term for the offense. She also stated that the convict had been in custody since August 5, 2024.
While Mrs Knowles stated that no child should have to go through this, she requested that her client go through psychiatric counseling.
Cordell Frazier, the Director of Public Prosecutions, agreed that the defendant was capable of rehabilitation and found the defense’s suggested prison term acceptable.
However, while Ms Frazier expressed that she was happy the convict accepted responsibility, she called for his sentence to send a strong message to society to act as a deterrent to similar crimes.
While Justice Thompson acknowledged the convict had a spent causing harm conviction, she stated that had no bearing on her sentencing.
Justice Thompson told the defendant that his daughter was “awash” with tears as he made her relive the traumatic experience before changing his plea. She also stated that the convict had breached his children’s trust.
Despite this, the Justice found that the convict was capable of rehabilitation. She also said that his sentence should act as a deterrent to similar crimes.
During the 37-year-old’s five-year incarceration, which takes affect from the day of his conviction, Justice Thompson ordered that he be enrolled in sexual abuse counseling. The convict was also ordered to receive a psychological evaluation and be enrolled in the prison’s work program.
Justice Thompson also recommended that the convict’s family also receive counseling.
In addition to Ms Frazier, Kristin Butler Beneby served as one of the prosecutors.
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