Crown seeks lengthy sentence for sex assault of girl, 4.
By Sam Pazzano, Toronto Sun
First posted: Thursday, January 15, 2015 07:24 PM EST | Updated: Thursday, January 15, 2015 07:27 PM EST
TORONTO - Ryan Belbin’s crimes represented “every parents’ worst nightmare” as he snuck into an unlocked home, abducted a young girl from her bed and sexually assaulted her, a prosecutor said at his sentencing hearing Thursday.
Crown attorney Sheila Cressman said Belbin snatched the sleeping, four-year-old at 3 a.m., stripped her naked and was “hunkering over” her in a North York backyard when the panicked victim’s father discovered the horrifying sight on Boxing Day 2011.
“Every parent assumes their children are safe once they are tucked into their beds at night,” said Cressman.
Belbin’s intrusion amounted to a “home invasion,” although it wasn’t an armed robbery scenario, she said.
Cressman implored Justice Nola Garton to impose an eight to nine year prison term against Belbin for breaking and entering, abduction of a minor, sexual assault and sexual interference. Belbin’s lawyer Jennifer Penman said the Crown’s sentence was “unprecedented” in its length and “is simply not warranted.”
Belbin, a first offender, has spent 35 months in custody, which is the equivalent of a four-and-a-half-year sentence, said Penman. She urged the court to impose a time-served sentence plus probation against a socially-isolated man who was involuntarily detained at mental hospitals on several occasions.
Garton will pass sentence on Feb. 12.
The judge found Belbin guilty in October and ruled that the alternative suspects suggested by Penman — the victim’s father and another neighbour — weren’t the culprits and Belbin was the offender.
A few minutes after the victim was rescued, she told her mom that her father “took me outside.”
The victim later said, “Why would Daddy hurt me if he loves me?” court heard.
But Garton dismissed the girl’s statements since she was “groggy and didn’t have clear alertness” after being abducted while in a deep sleep.
Belbin stopped his attack and fled when the victim’s father screamed, said Garton.
The hysterical father cradled his child in his arms and returned to his parents’ home — where the family was visiting from Connecticut.
Belbin’s DNA was found on the victim’s pyjamas, but it couldn’t be determined what “particular bodily fluid was the source,” Garton said.
Belbin, who lived in close proximity to the victim’s relatives, delivered newspapers in the area until two weeks before the incident and still maintains his innocence.
In a rambling, self-absorbed, self-pitying speech in court, Belbin said that every day he thinks about the victim’s family’s pain.
By Sam Pazzano, Toronto Sun
First posted: Thursday, January 15, 2015 07:24 PM EST | Updated: Thursday, January 15, 2015 07:27 PM EST
TORONTO - Ryan Belbin’s crimes represented “every parents’ worst nightmare” as he snuck into an unlocked home, abducted a young girl from her bed and sexually assaulted her, a prosecutor said at his sentencing hearing Thursday.
Crown attorney Sheila Cressman said Belbin snatched the sleeping, four-year-old at 3 a.m., stripped her naked and was “hunkering over” her in a North York backyard when the panicked victim’s father discovered the horrifying sight on Boxing Day 2011.
“Every parent assumes their children are safe once they are tucked into their beds at night,” said Cressman.
Belbin’s intrusion amounted to a “home invasion,” although it wasn’t an armed robbery scenario, she said.
Cressman implored Justice Nola Garton to impose an eight to nine year prison term against Belbin for breaking and entering, abduction of a minor, sexual assault and sexual interference. Belbin’s lawyer Jennifer Penman said the Crown’s sentence was “unprecedented” in its length and “is simply not warranted.”
Belbin, a first offender, has spent 35 months in custody, which is the equivalent of a four-and-a-half-year sentence, said Penman. She urged the court to impose a time-served sentence plus probation against a socially-isolated man who was involuntarily detained at mental hospitals on several occasions.
Garton will pass sentence on Feb. 12.
The judge found Belbin guilty in October and ruled that the alternative suspects suggested by Penman — the victim’s father and another neighbour — weren’t the culprits and Belbin was the offender.
A few minutes after the victim was rescued, she told her mom that her father “took me outside.”
The victim later said, “Why would Daddy hurt me if he loves me?” court heard.
But Garton dismissed the girl’s statements since she was “groggy and didn’t have clear alertness” after being abducted while in a deep sleep.
Belbin stopped his attack and fled when the victim’s father screamed, said Garton.
The hysterical father cradled his child in his arms and returned to his parents’ home — where the family was visiting from Connecticut.
Belbin’s DNA was found on the victim’s pyjamas, but it couldn’t be determined what “particular bodily fluid was the source,” Garton said.
Belbin, who lived in close proximity to the victim’s relatives, delivered newspapers in the area until two weeks before the incident and still maintains his innocence.
In a rambling, self-absorbed, self-pitying speech in court, Belbin said that every day he thinks about the victim’s family’s pain.
Ryan Belbin. (TORONTO POLICE PHOTO)
Crown seeks lengthy sentence for sex assault of girl, 4. | Toronto & GTA | News
Crown seeks lengthy sentence for sex assault of girl, 4. | Toronto & GTA | News
