A 28-year-old former Kansas police officer has been sentenced to life in prison in connection with the sexual abuse of two young children. The man decided to proceed with a bench trial, during which a judge found him guilty of the sex offenses. Media reports show the man was accused of committing sexual assault on a 3-month-old child, along with another 1-year-old youngster.
Formal charges in the case accused the defendant of two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. He will be eligible for parole after serving 25 years' time in prison; he would be 53-years-old.
The man was implicated in the crimes by his wife, who testified that he confessed the sexual activity to her after a recent therapy session. News reports show the trial verdict was reached through a stipulation of facts. That process allows both parties in a criminal trial to make agreements about certain facts; as a result, those items are not openly argued in court. The stipulation in this case was ostensibly created between the man and his wife, though guardians for the alleged victims could also have been involved.
The defendant had previously pleaded guilty to sexual battery in January 2012. That unrelated case involved improper conduct during the man's duty hours as a police officer. Authorities said the charges in that case were the result of two separate incidents that occurred in 2010 and 2011. The man had resigned from the Wichita Police Department after those charges were filed. He had been employed by the force for about three years' time.
National and state trends show that sex crimes and human trafficking against children are being considered increasingly serious. As a result, it has never been more important for criminal defendants to employ qualified defense attorneys to handle their cases. A professional lawyer can help you understand and preserve your rights during a criminal trial or sentencing hearing.
Source: kansascity.com, "Former Wichita police officer sentenced to life for child sex crimes," Hurst Laviana, April 11, 2013
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