Woman in Craigslist sex abuse case gets six years

‘Prey upon innocent children and you will pay a heavy price’: judge

A 49-year-old woman has been sentenced to six years and five months for taking part in the sexual abuse of a seven-year-old girl Hamilton girl who was advertised online.

“Those crimes are reprehensible and cannot be tolerated by any society,” Justice Tony Leitch told court Thursday.

Sonya Lucas of Kitchener received her sentence as the girl’s distraught aunt and her supporters looked on.

Lucas, 49, had already pleaded guilty to sexual interference, possession of child pornography and making child pornography.

She accompanied Rui DaSilva from Waterloo to the girl’s Hamilton home on April 26, 2016. There, in the basement, they sexually abused the girl, a scenario the mother’s boyfriend arranged by offering the child up on Craigslist.

Lucas, a sex worker who was paid $100 that night, filmed the abuse on a cellphone camera.

Leitch recounted how she and the other adults watched child porn in a “twisted warmup” before molesting the girl.

“The abuse was prolonged over several minutes.”

Lucas was convicted for that one night, but she did “nothing” to prevent more abuse, “reporting it to nobody,” Leitch added.

Child pornography and anatomically correct dolls used in previous “daddy-daughter” sessions with DaSilva, 38, were found at Lucas’ home.

The judge doubted Lucas’ potential for rehabilitation, noting she’d already been convicted of a sexual offence involving minors once before.

Leitch took into consideration her Gladue report, a document considered upon sentencing to recognize the unique circumstances of Indigenous offenders.

He noted Lucas’ upbringing, which included stays in foster homes, was rife with abuse.

“Clearly, her mother could not care for her as she should have,” he said.

But Leitch also weighed the incalculable impact the sexual abuse would have on Lucas’ young victim for years to come.

“Prey upon innocent children and you will pay a heavy price,” he said, this time, looking down at Lucas seated in the prisoner’s box.

Lucas’ sentence is six years and five months in prison, having already been in custody since August 2016.

She must also abide by several conditions, including being on the sex offender registry for life, not being around children under 16, and limiting her access to the internet.

During the trial, defence lawyer Harald Mattson argued his client was a victim herself having endured years of abuse in her youth.

“The judge was obviously very moved by the act and not as moved by her background as I thought he would be,” he said outside court.

The girl’s aunt, who at one point broke down in sobs, said she didn’t think the sentence was stiff enough.

“I was counting on eight years at least,” said the woman, who can’t be identified due to a publication ban protecting the young victim.

“Our justice system is messed up, you know,” she added, criticizing how offenders can get out early on parole.

Her niece, who now lives outside Hamilton with her biological father, has received some counselling. “She’s a good little girl.” In August, DaSilva, who admitted to travelling twice from Waterloo to sexually assault the girl, was sentenced to eight years in prison.

In December 2016, John Gallagher, 50, of Hamilton, was sentenced to three years and seven months for possessing and making child pornography.

The mother’s ex-boyfriend, 35, has pleaded guilty to sexual interference, making child pornography and possessing child pornography. The man, whose identity is also covered by the ban, will see his case resume Jan. 26.

Another man in his 30s is charged with sexual interference and making child pornography. A trial date for the man, also covered by the ban, hasn’t been set yet.