Warning: Some readers may find the details of this case disturbing
A Waterloo, Ont. man has been sentenced to eight years behind bars for his role in a horrific child exploitation case in which a seven-year-old girl was sexually assaulted after being advertised on Craigslist.
Rui DaSilva, 39, was sentenced Monday in a Hamilton courtroom after pleading guilty in May to sexual interference and making child pornography.
Court heard how DaSilva responded to a Craigslist ad posted by the boyfriend of the little girl’s mother. He then travelled twice to Hamilton with an escort and sexually abused the girl, taking video and photos of the assaults.
The escort, Sonya Lucas, pleaded guilty in June to sexual interference, making child pornography, and possession of child pornography. She admitted to inappropriately touching the girl while taking cellphone video of DaSilva and another man sexually abusing the girl.
She faces sentencing in September.
During DaSilva’s sentencing Monday, his victim presented a drawing she made as part of her victim impact statement.
The drawing showed a stick figure in black along with a girl with a sad face, surrounded by tears. The drawing brought many in the courtroom to tears Monday as the judge described it. The drawing is sealed and cannot be published.
Justice Marjoh Agro said during sentencing that "these offences took place in the child's house where there should have been comfort and security... But it's where depravity came knocking."
DaSilva showed little emotion during the hearing and his lawyer declined to comment.
In a pre-sentence report referenced in court, DaSilva denied being sexually attracted to children, claiming he did not think the incidents he was involved in would go as far as they did.
Agro noted that DaSilva did not appear to “think of himself as a deviant” and noted his “lack of insight.”
Members of the Guardians of the Children motorcycle club attended the sentencing to support the victim. The group says its mission is to educate the public about child abuse and “to provide strength and stability to families in crisis.”
Members told reporters that DaSilva's eight-year sentence was not enough and that the images of the assaults are now on the internet, where they will live on.
“These images from this poor little girl, they're going to be online and on somebody's computer, somebody's cellphone for the rest of her fricking life. She's got to live with that,” said member Rayven White.
Hamilton police began investigating the case in May, 2016, after a tip from the Hamilton Catholic Children’s Aid Society, who reported that a young girl claimed she was being molested by her mother’s boyfriend.
That boyfriend cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim. His case is still before the courts.
With a report from CTV Kitchener's Nicole Lampa
