LATINA – Six years and three months in prison is the sentence inflicted on the janitor of a middle school in Latina accused of aggravated sexual assault on a 13-year-old student. The man was arrested at his workplace on 7 October 2022 after the victim told everything to his parents who reported him. The facts which are the subject of the criminal proceedings date back to 2019 when the 67-year-old allegedly approached the girl several times inside the institute and groped her breasts and private parts, on one occasion he also followed her into the bathroom and attempted to kiss her.
During the trial before the first criminal panel of the Court of Latina, the man had denied any accusation, saying that he had hugged her as a simple gesture of affection. Today the prosecutor Marco Giancristofaro asked for a six and a half year prison sentence while the defense asked for acquittal or recognition of the crime as less serious.
The lawyer Francesco Manchisi, acting as a civil party for the victim’s parents, asked that the man be sentenced to compensation of 50 thousand euros as well as the payment of court costs and a provisional amount of 10 thousand euros for each of the two parents.
The Court sentenced the accused to six years and three months in prison, perpetual disqualification from holding public offices, perpetual disqualification from any role in schools and in any case in occupations that involve contact with minors. The sentence also includes the obligation to keep the police informed of one’s movements. Compensation for damages will be assessed in civil court.
