|
|
FARMINGTON – A Wilton man was sentenced to five years in prison today in Franklin County Superior Court, after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a child under the age of 14.
Justin Rowe, 29, of Wilton, pleaded guilty to two counts of gross sexual assault, Class A felonies, as well as unlawful sexual contact, a Class B felony. While the charges directly relate to incidents occurring between Nov. 23 and Nov. 30, 2009, the state believes that the abuse actually occurred over a matter of years.
In 2009 the victim, 12, told a friend that she had been repeatedly molested by Rowe, who was living in her family’s home at the time of the incidents. Wilton Police Department’s Lt. E. Page Reynolds interviewed both the victim and Rowe. The department’s investigation included sending the victim’s bed clothes to the Maine State Crime Lab for DNA testing, which collaborated the victim’s statement.
Rowe repeatedly entered the victim’s bedroom, sexually assaulting her, and reportedly telling her, “don’t tell anyone, because it will ruin all of their lives.”
As part of the plea and sentencing arrangement, Rowe received a 15-year Department of Corrections sentence, with 10 years suspended. The disposition of the remaining five years of the sentence were determined at a relatively brief sentencing hearing.
Assistant District Attorney Andrew Robinson argued for five years, citing the ongoing nature of the abuse, the age and vulnerability of the victim and the betrayal of trust by Rowe, against both the victim and family, as aggravating factors. Robinson said that the family was “tolerating” the five-year cap only to spare the victim from having to testify at trial.
“The whole reason that their world was turned upside down is sitting in front of you,” Robinson told Justice Michaela Murphy.
The victim’s parents both submitted letters to the court, as did the victim herself.
“I felt trapped in a little box that no one else could get in, except Justin,” the victim’s letter said, read by Robinson. “When he would get mad, he was very scary.”
Rowe’s attorney, Woody Hanstein, argued for an unspecified term of less than five years. He noted that Rowe had virtually no criminal record and had been a central figure within the family for some time, helping support them for five years. Rowe made a brief statement to the court as well.
“I’m very sorry for what I did,” he said. “If I could take it all back I would, in a heartbeat. [Victim’s Name], I know you trusted me and I betrayed that trust.”
Murphy sentenced Rowe to the maximum prison time allowable under the sentencing agreement, noting that the state was increasingly viewing criminal acts such as Rowe’s as being among the most serious.
“The message the Legislature has sent to the courts,” Murphy said, “is that crimes such as this are some of the gravest committed against citizens.”
Rowe will spend five years in prison, with 10 years of additional time suspended. He will face 12 years of probation when he is released, allowable under state law due to the victim being 12 years old or younger during the crime. His conditions of probation will include provisions of no contact with the victim and her family, substance abuse counseling and sexual offender treatment and no contact with children under the age of 18, except for immediate family members in the presence of their guardians.
He will also be required to register with the state, as per the Sex Offenders Registration and Notification Act.
[Editor’s Note: The staff writer is related to attorney Woody Hanstein.]
5 years ? For repeatedly raping a child ? A 20 year old in Bangor just got 7 years 4 months in Federal prison for 60 pills. Stop the war on drugs and put the real crimminals away.
I agree with Caleb. We are sending the wrong message when we give tougher sentences to pill poppers than we do rapists. Disgusting.
FIVE YEARS???? That is absolutely unbelievable. Is there such a thing as justice anymore? These little slaps on the hand certainly aren’t much of a deterrent from such detestable crimes. Reading things like this cause you to lose all faith in our “justice” system. The reality of it is that there just doesn’t seem to be such a thing in most cases anymore. We ought to be outraged.
Just five years for molesting a child?! Are you serious? That sentence is a joke and makes a mockery out of the notion of the concept of justice. This animal will be back lurking the streets before the victim even goes to her high school prom. Shame.
This is a grossly inadequate punishment. 5 years for assaulting a child? In my opinion, a life sentence would be totally appropriate . (And yes, I definitely would pay more taxes to keep scum like this incarcerated and off the street)
Any person an adult or child, that molests another, again adult or child, is a sick human being. They should be secluded for life since they have taken most of the life out of their victims. This sentence is very low i agree, but it appears this was done to save the child victim from having to testify at the trial. I’m sure justice will be served in more ways than just this 5 year incarceration. I am sure his fellow inmates and citizens will keep this crime in the front of his mind forever and I hope he struggles everyday to live a normal life. Ever heard of “street justice”? I hope that this criminal finds out the meaning of that upon his release. Enjoy smelling your own urine for five years! And to the victim: I hope your life blossoms from here and you get to move on and be happy in whatever you do. Others will have your back, that you can depend on.
Caleb hit the Ole’ proverbial nail right on the head with his comments. Its about time we modify all these old Ronald Reagan era laws, if we did it would empty out our prisons and make room for the real criminals like Child Molesters.
What the hell has Ronald Reagan got to do with it?
The sunjournal and local news are reporting that the low life actually got sentenced to 15 yrs. (Not like thats enough either!!!)
This guy runined the life of this young girl. She will never be able to forget it. He deserves to be put away for life. DNA should have been enough and the court could have let the girl testify in writing. I think the justice system in this state is a sham. Even murderers get away with light sentences today.
Realistic, you always say it how it is. I like your style!
Twisty—he did get “sentenced” to 15 years but only “serving” 5 of those 15 years.
Captain Planet back during the Reagan administration his wife Nancey pushed for a lot of “new drug laws” that have filled our correctional system beyond belief, filled it to the point where there is no room for these child molesters. Do your research on the subject and you’ll find that there are people in the “System” doing life for 1 or 2 hits of LSD on a sugar cube because of the weight. Its atrocious that their doing life while these child molesters are getting a slap on the back of the hand.
FIY – the victim is still a virgin – and that is a true fact. It was clearly stated in the courtroom that there was no violence or penetration. The media failed to report this.
All child molesters should get Life in jail or death period.
rosy–kinda curious where you were in the court room-but i was there too-why is it anyone’s business whether there was or was not penetration or lack there of violence–the child molester in this case threatened the child…..and visited her bedroom for several years, several times weekly…do you think that makes him any less of a monster?? perhaps you should have kept that comment to yourself. i would have loved to have seen him get the death penalty but he deserves to suffer. can’t wait for him to powerless when someone bigger and stronger decides to pay him a visit in his new home.
Rosy- No violence? Really.. He mentally and sexually abused that little girl for years. That sounds pretty violent to me. If the little girl was your daughter would you still feel the same? I doubt it.