Judge Who Delivered Verdict Also Tearful... 25-Year Prison Sentence for 50-Year-Old Who Sexually Assaulted Middle School Stepdaughter and Friend

Court: "The motive, outcome, and method of the crime are very malicious and severe"

A stepfather who committed sexual crimes against his stepdaughter and her friend was sentenced to a heavier punishment in the appellate court than in the first trial.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] The court sentenced a 50-year-old stepfather to 25 years in prison for committing sexual crimes against his middle school-aged stepdaughter and her friend, driving them to death.

On the 9th, the Criminal Division 1 of the Cheongju Branch of the Daejeon High Court (Chief Judge Kim Yoo-jin) overturned the original sentence of 20 years imprisonment and imposed a heavier sentence of 25 years imprisonment on Mr. A (57), who was detained and indicted on charges of violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (forcible molestation within family relations), and violations of the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse (rape causing injury, quasi-sexual acts), among others.

The original court's orders restricting employment at institutions related to children, adolescents, and the disabled (10 years) and probation (5 years) were maintained, and the defendant's personal information, which was exempted by the first trial court, was ordered to be notified and disclosed. However, the request for an electronic location tracking device attachment order was rejected considering the defendant's age and other factors.

Mr. A had committed sexual crimes against his stepdaughter, Ms. B, for several years. Additionally, on January 17 of last year, he gave alcohol to Ms. C, a friend of his stepdaughter who had come to visit his home, and raped her while she was asleep, leading to his prosecution.

Ms. B and Ms. C, who suffered from the trauma of sexual crimes, made an extreme choice on May 12 of last year by jumping from the rooftop of an apartment in Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju City.

Previously, the first trial court recognized the charges except for the familial rape charge. Due to insufficient evidence, the acts were considered quasi-sexual acts and forcible molestation rather than rape.

However, Chief Judge Kim overturned the first trial's ruling and found the defendant guilty, stating, "Considering the additional evidence submitted, the charge of rape against the stepdaughter is sufficiently proven." He also pointed out, "As a stepfather, the defendant should have raised and protected the victim properly, but instead committed the crimes, making the motive, outcome, and method of the crime very reprehensible and severe."

Chief Judge Kim's voice trembled as if holding back tears while mentioning the victims' suffering. He explained the sentencing reasons, saying, "Moreover, the defendant denied the crimes during the investigation process, causing even greater mental anguish to the victims," and "This was a major cause that led the victims to no longer endure the given reality and make the extreme choice together."