ComPol Williams: “It will send a strong message.”

The child’s mother was initially reluctant to cooperate with investigators.  When the gravity of the situation was explained to her, she had a change of mind.  With Flores pleading guilty to both charges, the prosecution is now seeking a custodial sentence which carries a minimum of ten years in prison.  Commissioner Williams says today’s successful conviction should send a clear message to perpetrators of child abuse.

 

Chester Williams

“We had to speak with the mother and explain to her the nature of what we are dealing with.  You can’t be a mother and see that your child is being abused in such magnitude and want nothing.  I don’t think that a woman should love a man more than how they love their own children and so she was spoken to and eventually she decided that she was going to cooperate with the police and she did.  We got the statement from her and so we were able to make significant progress.”

 

Reporter

“And you got a conviction.”

 

Chester Williams

“Well of course, yes, the defendant pled guilty to the two counts.  And so, as you have heard my submission to the court, I will be seeking a custodial sentence.  I don’t think that this is an offense that requires a fine, as a matter of fact, the offense under Section Sixty, Subsection One of the Criminal Code clearly states that it has a minimum sentence of ten years imprisonment.  But we do know that even though that is stipulated by law, the magistrate still has that discretion that they can exercise in not giving a custodial sentence and hence the reason I indicated to the court my intent to seek a custodial sentence when the day of sentencing comes.”

 

Isani Cayetano

“How stern a message do you believe that this now sends to any abuser of children out there?”

 

Chester Williams

“Well, I would want to think that it will send a strong message.  There are many people out there who are constantly abusing children, many of which is not known to the public and I hope that they come more and more known to the public so that we can address them.  It’s the only way that we can deal with the issue of child abuse.”