Stepfather who sexually assaulted his teenage daughter 86 times claims "Daughter also liked it"

Defendant: "Victim always consented to sexual relations, victim also liked it"
Court: "Defendant shifts responsibility to victim"

A stepfather who sexually assaulted his stepdaughter 86 times over two years was sentenced to prison on the 1st. In court, he stated, "The victim always consented to the sexual acts, and I thought she enjoyed having sex."
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A stepfather with a heart of stone who sexually assaulted his teenage stepdaughter 86 times over two years has been sentenced to prison. In court, he stated, "The victim always consented to the sexual acts, and I thought she engaged in them willingly."

On the 1st, the Jeonju Division of the Gwangju High Court's 1st Criminal Division announced that it dismissed the appeal of A (35), who was charged with violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles against Sexual Abuse, and upheld the original sentence of 10 years in prison.

The court also maintained the original ruling ordering 120 hours of sexual violence treatment lectures, the disclosure and notification of the defendant's personal information for seven years, and a 10-year employment ban at institutions related to children, adolescents, and persons with disabilities.

A was tried on charges of repeatedly sexually assaulting and molesting the daughter of a woman with whom he was in a de facto marital relationship for two years starting in August 2018.

Since 2016, A had been living with the victim and her siblings while in a de facto marital relationship with the victim's biological mother, and investigations revealed that he habitually threatened and abused the victim.

A threw objects, saying things like "I'll kill you," "I'll kill you, your sibling, and your mother," because the victim did not obey him.

The victim, aware of the abuse, was afraid to report it immediately for fear that her family would break apart and that she would be abandoned by her mother. A exploited this fear to continue his horrific crimes.

The first trial court stated, "The victim appears to have endured the defendant's sexual violence for a long time, sacrificing herself for the family's happiness. The defendant exploited the victim's obedient and kind nature, who was practically a family member, to sexually assault her over an extended period, warranting severe punishment," and sentenced him to 10 years in prison.

A appealed, claiming that "although I surrendered, the original court did not reflect this," arguing that the sentence was unfair.

The appellate court dismissed A's appeal.

The court ruled, "While acknowledging the fact of surrender, this is merely a discretionary reason for sentence reduction. Even if the original court did not apply a legal reduction for surrender or consider it a favorable factor in sentencing, this cannot be deemed illegal or unjust."

Furthermore, "Considering the circumstances and motives of the crime, the method, and especially the fact that sexual violence was inflicted on the victim 86 times, the possibility of reoffending cannot be completely ruled out, and disclosure and notification of the defendant's personal information are necessary to prevent sexual crimes by the defendant," the court stated.

It added, "There appear to be crimes not charged due to the inability to specify the exact time and place of the offenses. The victim likely suffered significant psychological trauma and will endure lifelong sexual shame. Moreover, this case is expected to have a very negative impact on the victim's future formation of a healthy sexual value system."

The court noted, "Despite this, the defendant showed an attitude of shifting responsibility onto the victim during the investigation, stating that 'the victim always consented to the sexual acts and enjoyed them.' Considering that he was not forgiven by the victim and her mother, that they desire severe punishment, and that he sexually assaulted a young victim who was practically a family member, the original sentence cannot be considered excessive."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.