Nigerian immigrant gets 8-16 years for child rape

MEDIA COURTHOUSE >> A 43-yearold Nigerian native was sentenced Thursday to eight to 16 years in a state prison for repeatedly sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl in

2017.

Clifford E. Emarievebe, of Philadelphia, was convicted in June on two counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, as well as one count each of indecent assault of a child and endangering the welfare of a child following a jury trial before Delaware County Court of Common Pleas Judge Margaret J. Amoroso.

Chester Police Officer Melissa Goodman responded to a 911 call for a report of child sexual abuse in March 2017, according to a previous release from Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun M. Copeland. During an interview, the victim described enduring continuing abuse by Emarievebe at her home between February and March 2017.

Investigators learned that Emarievebe was frequently at the house while the victim’s mother was at work and engaged in numerous instances of sexual abuse with the victim, each time asking her, “Do you love me?”

Emarievebe told the victim they would both go to jail if she told anyone about the abuse and made her swear on her life to keep it secret, according to the release. The child did eventually confide in her mother, which set off the investigation by Goodman with the assistance of child abuse pediatrics specialist Dr. June ElcockMessam and the Delaware County Child Advocacy Center, and Delaware County Women Against Rape for victim advocacy and support.

Assistant District Attorney Ryan Grace said Thursday that the heinous nature of the case almost could not be exaggerated, pointing to the months of sustained fear and trauma the child suffered.

“This was not a one-time event, this went on for months and months, night after night, that (the victim) had to know that it was going to happen again,” he said.

Grace added that Emarievebe had abused his position of trust and that the victim’s barometer for safety versus fear was likely broken for the rest of her life.

The victim was not present Thursday, but her mother said she and her siblings had sustained psychological and emotional damage. The mother said that she would be there for her children to ensure they grow up strong, and advised Emarievebe to repent and confess his sins.

Grace sought a cumulative sentence of 42 to 84 years, the top of the standard range for all four counts running consecutively. Defense attorney Michael Lambert asked Judge Amoroso to take into account his client’s complete lack of criminal history and the likelihood that he would return to Nigeria after his release, never to return.

Emarievebe also told the judge that he had come to the United States as an engineer with the hope of earning money for his siblings, but the victim’s mother threatened to have him put away after their relationship deteriorated.

“This is not me, this is not my person,” he said. “I didn’t come her to be in a situation like this. …I am not what they say. I’m just begging for mercy. That’s all.”

Judge Amoroso said she found the victim very credible at trial, but took into account Emarievebe’s law-abiding history in crafting her sentence. She ran two sentences for 84 to 168 months concurrently, with one of two sentences for 12 to 24 months running consecutively.

Grace asked Amoroso to reconsider and impose two consecutive 84- to 168-month sentences, arguing it would be cold comfort that Emarievebe would return to Nigeria where he would be unsupervised. The judge declined that request.

Should Emarievebe remain in the country following his release, he will be subject to lifetime registration as a sex offender under Megan’s Law.