Former RA Sentenced to 14 Years for Molestation

Former Maria's Tower resident advisor (RA) Sonny I. Szeto, arrested last year on charges of molestation of a minor and possession of child pornography, was sentenced to 14 years in prison in March.

Szeto, who was a RA in Maria's Tower during the 2004-2005 school year, was arrested in Feb. 2006 for molesting an 11-year-old girl in Connecticut. Szeto met the girl on the social networking site MySpace.com.

In March of 2006, officers searched Szeto's home and computer in Queens. Assistant State Attorney for Connecticut, James A. Filan, who prosecuted the case, said there were approximately 600 images, some dating back to 2000, as reported by The Connecticut Post.

Szeto pled guilty to both counts of molestation of a minor and possession of child pornography last June.

Following Szeto's release, the judge ordered him to lifelong supervision and counseling. He will also have to register as a sex offender in the town in which he lives.

The Connecticut Post also reported that the girl's father has asked for Szeto be jailed until his daughter was out of high school. He pointed out that Szeto knew the girl's address and knew where she went to school.

The girl's father cited extreme behaviors exhibited by Szeto. In particular, the father said Szeto went as far as calling his daughter's school pretending to be her brother and telling officials there had been a family emergency in order to reach the girl.

Szeto's lawyer, Roger Lee Stavis, had pushed for the minimum sentence of five years and is planning on appealing the decision.

In an interview with The Pace Press, Stavis said he recommended his client serve five years because "five years is a long time in prison."

Stavis insisted his client is sorry about his actions, and is not a pedophile.

Stavis said, "He has no prior history. He doesn't fit the character profile. There is a report from a psychiatrist."

According to The Post, the psychiatrist reported Szeto suffers from major depression and avoidant personality disorder. He also said Szeto grew up in an abusive home.

According to the affidavit, Szeto and the young girl met on MySpace in Sept. 2005. After communicating through the website, they began talking on AOL Instant Messenger and also used a webcam to communicate. They later began talking on the phone before Szeto suggested the two meet in person.

After learning the girl's age, Szeto said, "age didn't matter," the girl's father told the court.

The affidavit also said Szeto made three trips from his home in Jersey City to Connecticut to visit the girl. On the second occasion he kissed the girl in her play room while her parents were sleeping.

On the third visit, a day or so later, Szeto fondled the girl in her play room. On that evening, the victim had two friends over, who were also minors. One of them reported the incident to the girl's parents, which prompted the investigation.

The girl's father spoke in court, accusing Szeto of failing to accept responsibility for his actions, instead blaming his childhood and even the victim herself.

Earlier, Stavis argued Szeto shouldn't receive such a large sentence as the young girl had also initiated some of the phone calls.

Tom Carson, a spokesperson for the Connecticut State Attorney's office, said the sentence was fitting for the crime.