Évora Court convicts young artist of crimes against minors
A 21-year-old who participated in a television talent show has been handed a four-and-a-half-year suspended sentence for sexual abuse of children and possession of child sexual abuse material.
Évora Court convicts young artist of crimes against minors
A court in the Évora district has handed down a sentence of four years and six months, suspended, to a 21-year-old who became known to the public through a television talent competition. The sentence, delivered on Monday, concerns seven offences: three counts of child sexual abuse and four relating to material depicting the sexual abuse of minors.
During the trial, the defendant fully confessed to the charges. The victims were two adolescents, one aged 13 and the other 15 at the time of the offences. The presiding judge warned the defendant that in the event of reoffending, he will be required to serve an effective sentence in a prison facility.
The panel of judges found all elements of the prosecution's case proven, having excused witnesses after the first hearing. In her reasoning, the presiding judge emphasised that the defendant's behaviour was "extremely serious", adding that he was the only adult in the situations and showed no understanding of the impact of his actions on the victims. She also characterised him as immature and dazzled by the fame resulting from performances.
In addition to the main sentence, supplementary sanctions were imposed: a five-year ban on holding positions of trust with minors and payment of 500 euros to one of the young women. The decision to suspend execution of the sentence was based on the remorse demonstrated, the absence of contact with minors over the past two years, and family support.
The arrest took place in July 2024, moments before a performance in Porto Alto, in the municipality of Benavente. Since then, the young man has abandoned his artistic career and now works in a care home for the elderly in Azaruja, his hometown, where he lives with his parents.
Source: Correio da Manhã
Source: Correio da Manhã