Imagine a world without perverted old men. What a place that would be. No ruined lives, wrecked futures or a need for victims to spend hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars on counseling to return to some sort of
Imagine a world without perverted old men. What a place that would be.
No ruined lives, wrecked futures or a need for victims to spend hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars on counseling to return to some sort of normalcy.
Until this dream becomes reality, we can, should and must protect innocent children from these types of individuals. When adults act on improper impulses, they must be held accountable.
Unfortunately, this did not happen this week on Kaua‘i. John Cruzada, a 57-year-old Hanama‘ulu man, will serve just 18 months after sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl multiple times in 2007.
The girl may hopefully find some closure with the case finally concluding. Three years after Cruzada was arrested for first-degree sexual assault and sexual assault of a minor, it is beyond time for her healing process to begin.
The girl’s family said four years after the crimes were committed, the once outward teenager is more fearful and less confident. She hides in public and locks herself in her room when at home. The family may even need to uproot itself and move off-island to enable a better recovery.
Meanwhile, the offender remains apologetic but without remorse based on his actions and statements in court. In sentencing Cruzada to the maximum allowed for the reduced charge of second-degree sexual assault — the sexual assault of a minor charge was dismissed under the plea deal — Judge Kathleen Watanabe noted society must have some degree of certainty that he will not re-offend upon his release.
We call on the public to do everything in its power to ensure this does not happen. Residents can start by keeping tabs on his whereabouts because he will have to register with the State Sexual Offender Registry.
One girl’s suffering is one too many. The thought of more children having to cope with being taken advantage of is gut-wrenching.
We’re not interested in the letters of support he received; it doesn’t matter if Cruzada has been able to hold down a job. Nor do we care if he were to say she brought it on herself; adults must recognize right from wrong.
What matters is the long-term recovery of this girl and an apt sentence for Cruzada. Since we didn’t get the latter, we have no choice but to just focus on the former.
Nationwide, too many pedophiles and sexual deviants are receiving far too light of sentences for their horrendous actions.
In Philadelphia, for instance, a 47-year-old lawyer was given a sentence this week to serve only 15 years in jail after forcing a 12-year-old boy to be his “sex slave” for six years. We can’t endure this type of disgusting behavior in our society.
Similarly, 18 measly months for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl at least 10 times does not pass the litmus test. If she is still suffering four years later, as is the case, then the punishment should start with four years. Maybe unlock him when she has fully recovered. That seems a lot closer to fair.
We realize there’s risk of this sexual deviant walking if the prosecutors come up short due to questionable evidence or a technicality, but what we ended up with is a sentence that is anything but justice.
Lawmakers should impose stiffer minimum sentences for all crimes of a sexual nature and consider removing the maximum. Judges need to have more discretion in sentencing.
And prosecutors should not hesitate to take a case to trial if they can be relatively confident of a conviction based on the actual offense.
Kaua‘i residents deserve a legal system that delivers justice. The community should expect nothing less.
