Former NCAA and NFL soccer player Justine Crawford was sentenced to twelve years in prison after pleading guilty to a sexual charge. The accused was caught unawares, forcing a 12-year-old girl to entice him sexually. Sources confirmed that initially, the 23-year-old plaintiff was to serve twenty-five years in prison. Mr. Crawford reached a great deal after the prosecutor dropped three felony charges.
Moreover, the accused will also serve eight years of probation after release, during which he is prohibited from making contact with the complainant, her family, and even his two children.
The Incident
While testifying during a preliminary hearing, Columbus Police Detective Mark Scruggs revealed what had transpired the day Justine was caught. He narrated that it was around five in the morning when Mrs. Crawford walked in on her husband in their living room, standing over a twelve-year-old girl with an erection.
When he realized that his wife had seen him, Crawford rushed to the kitchen, covered himself up, and then went to bed. Later, when Mrs. Crawford confronted him; the air was dense with tensions as the accused dismissed the allegations claiming he ran into the kitchen because she freaked him out.
However, when Crawford’s wife took the victim to her mother, the narrative was different. She stated that Crawford had woke her up, forced her to perform oral sex on him, and then had intercourse with her. The narrative was quite disturbing, considering the alleged victim was just in her early teens.
Crawford in Questioning
The incident landed Crawford in trouble as the parents of the victim reported him to authorities. Mr. Crawford subsequently denied the accusation several times the police questioned him. He only gave in after reaching a deal with the prosecutor. The officers non hesitantly arrested and charged him with incest, sodomy, and enticing a child for indecent purposes.
His attorney, Michael Eddings, claimed that his client was not in his right state of mind while giving the confession. He stated that Mr. Crawfold had been depressed after missing out on an opportunity to join the Falcons team because he sustained an injury. Though Eddings claimed he wasn’t using the injury as a justification, commentators had a different story to tell.
Although Eddings believes Crawford has not been in his right mental state, he will still have to pay for his misconduct. On Tuesday, Crawford apologized to the victim and her family.
The Impact of Sexual Misconduct
Sexual abuse has consistently been degrading moral standards in society. The 12-year-old girl might not be the first victim as occasionally, many girls have been victims of such circumstances. When most young girls become victims of rape or sexual abuse, it tends to interfere with their mental state. Some become depressed to the extent of wanting to end their lives.
They start having a negative opinion about life, and within no time, they lose their value for life. People must curb sexual misconduct, and those with sexual problems seek help from qualified personnel. Only then will we have a suitable environment for prosperity.
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