Woman says she was ‘cowardly’ in child sex case

Crown says testimony is an attempt to minimize her behaviour

A Kitchener woman who has admitted to taking part in the sexual assault of a seven-year-old Hamilton girl told court she didn’t take pleasure in her participation and was only following orders as a paid sex worker.

However, assistant Crown attorney Janet Booy called the testimony “completely unbelievable” and an attempt at “minimizing her behaviour.”

In June, 49-year-old Sonya Lucas pleaded guilty to sexual interference, making child pornography and possession of child pornography. She admitted to travelling to the girl’s Hamilton home in the middle of the night April 27, 2016, with a man she knew as Mike McPhee. Lucas said she met this man on Craigslist and he typically paid her $140 a visit to act out “daddy/daughter role playing.” She was offered $100 for the night of the abuse.

McPhee’s real name is Rui DaSilva and he was responding to a Craigslist advertisement allegedly posted by the girl’s mother’s then boyfriend, who is accused of repeatedly abusing the girl. He cannot be named because of a publication ban protecting the girl’s identity, but he faces 40 criminal charges. DaSilva previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight years.

“I was scared and cowardly,” Lucas testified on Tuesday upon being questioned why she didn’t at the very least report the abuse later to prevent the girl from being victimized again.

“You knew she was living in that horrid situation,” Booy said, later adding “you took absolutely zero steps to help that little girl.”

Tuesday’s court appearance was for a Gardiner hearing, which is held to iron out disputed details in the agreed statement of facts.

Lucas said she didn’t realize the victim was a child until she was called over to record the abuse on a cellphone camera and then participate.

“I feel terrible about that night ... it was the worst mistake of my life,” she said.

However, Booy was adamant Lucas would have known the victim was a child from the moment the mom’s boyfriend carried the girl over his shoulder into the room and laid her on the floor.

Booy also suggested Lucas was a willing participant.

Lucas was already a convicted sex offender for a case involving minors, and police found dolls with anatomically correct genitals and child pornography in her apartment.

However, Lucas said the child porn belonged to men.

The young victim’s aunt was again in court, as she is for every hearing in this case, to advocate for her niece. So too were a number of supporters from the Toronto Chapter of Guardians of the Children – a biker group dedicated to fighting child abuse.

The case resumes in court Dec. 11 for a sentencing hearing.