Knew that he had been found guilty, but haven't heard about any sentencing yet anyone know if he has and what the sentence was?
Has the Murrietta man simental been sentenced?
by buffalosrfree 3 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse
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kwr
Sentencing was supposed to happen on May 23rd. There are no articles on the Internet saying he has been sentenced.
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kwr
Sentencing was supposed to happen today: http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/news/digest/2008/06/murrieta-man-convicted-of-mole.html
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Honesty
Murrieta molester sentenced to prison
By TAMMY J. McCOY
The Press-Enterprise
Calling him a serial child molester for preying on little girls during his daughter's slumber parties, a judge today ignored calls for mercy and sentenced a Murrieta man to 45-years-to-life in prison.
Judge F. Paul Dickerson III said the decision was not difficult to make given the damage defendant Gilbert Simental, of Murrieta, inflicted on the girls he molested and the threat he poses to the community.
"The court has little doubt that if released he will move immediately to molest little children," Dickerson said. "The court feels there are other victims out there who have not come forward."
Simental was convicted in April of molesting two sisters, then 9 and 10, on separate occasions in 2005 and 2006.
The Press-Enterprise does not publish the names of minors who are victims of sexual abuse.
During his trial at the Southwest Justice Center, Simental admitted molesting the younger girl on two occasions but denied abusing the older child.
However, leaders within Simental's congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses contradicted his testimony.
During the course of a religious inquiry Simental admitted touching both girls, Elders John Vaughn and Andrew Sinay told the court.
Prior to the trial, Vaughn and Sinay balked at testifying against Simental, citing the confidentiality afforded by the penitent-clergy privilege.
Dickerson ruled against them, noting that since the Jehovah's Witnesses' judicial committee system is not designed to keep information confidential, the penitent-clergy privilege does not apply.
Under state law, statements are protected when made to clergy members who are required by their faith's practices to keep them secret.
In his March ruling, Dickerson said Simental did not go to the elders seeking forgiveness or spiritual guidance, instead the elders came to him in what appeared more like an investigation into immoral conduct.