Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja has sentenced David Charles, a convicted pedophile, to eight years in prison for the indecent assault of a 10-year-old girl.
The sentence was delivered after Charles pleaded guilty to an amended two-count charge presented by the Lagos State government on July 28, 2021.
The prosecution revealed to the court that on April 16, 2017, Charles had touched the lap of the minor with his genitals and exposed her to pornography at 16 Aina Street, Shogunle, Oshodi, Lagos.
The prosecutor emphasized that these actions violated sections 135 and 170 of the Criminal Law, Chapter C.17, Vol. 3, of the Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
During the trial, witnesses were called by the prosecution, while the defendant provided his testimony before ultimately agreeing to a plea bargain.
In his judgment, Justice Oshodi remarked that the court had thoroughly examined the case’s facts, the plea bargain agreement, and relevant legal provisions.
As a result, Charles received a seven-year sentence for the first count and one year for the second count. The court determined that these sentences would run consecutively, as per the plea bargain, leading to a combined total of eight years’ imprisonment.
Additionally, the court ordered that the sentence commence from the date of his remand, October 10, 2017, meaning the time already served in custody would be counted towards his sentence.
He said, “In the light of the nature of the offence in count one and by the relevant provision of section 32 of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Law, 2021, this court orders that you, David Charles, be registered as a sex offender.
