Court sends fireman, worker to prison for abuse

The Superior Court imposed prison terms against a fireman and a marine sports crewman for sexually abusing an underaged niece sometime in 2002.

Norman L Tenorio, a 35-year-old firefighter when he had sexual contact with the then 14-year-old girl, got a 10-year prison term for his conviction on a charge of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree.

Associate Judge David Wiseman also sentenced Rex R. Jose to seven years imprisonment for conviction on the same charge. Jose was 30 years old when he had sex with the girl.

The judge partially suspended the prison terms against Tenorio and Jose, both of whom would be spending actual prison time of three years. The judge also gave credit to the 10 days each of the defendants had already spent in jail.

Wiseman meted out the conviction and sentence against the two defendants pursuant to a plea agreement they had with the Attorney General’s Office.

“Our public laws represent the will and sentiment of the people of the community and when it comes to sexual abuse of a minor, they have spoken loud and clear, with harsh sentences such as 30 year and 10 year jail terms for 1st and 2nd degree sexual abuse of a minor respectively,” Wiseman said.

“As harsh as they may seem, some jurisdictions such as Louisiana and many other countries impose the death penalty or life imprisonment for such acts,” noted Wiseman.

Wiseman said that, while both defendants have shown sincere remorse and acceptance of responsibility for the harm done to the victim, he imposed the respective prison terms against the two by also considering the good of the community—not just the defendants’ rehabilitation.

“Sentencing is not really for what is good for the defendant[s], but rather what is best for the community in the sense that such egregious crimes against our children be deterred from occurring,” explained the magistrate. “The signal must be sent to adults who violate the innocence of a minor, that such conduct cannot and will not be tolerated, and the court cannot ignore such expression.”

In January this year, Assistant Attorney General Alexander Shapiro filed an amended criminal information against Tenorio, who was charged with sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree and incest. Shapiro separately charged Jose with sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree.

The charging documents stated that Tenorio had sex with his niece by blood between Jan. 7 to July 2002, while Jose had sex with the same victim in a separate occasion at a Gualo Rai hotel between June to July 2002. Shapiro had said Jose provided the girl with marijuana and alcoholic beverage before having sex with her.

Based on a police affidavit earlier submitted to the court, the victim claimed having sex with Tenorio about six to eight times. The juvenile told police that her uncle Jose also had sex with her several times.

Besides meting out the prison terms, Wiseman also imposed a $200-fine against each of the defendants. The judge required the defendants to submit to HIV tests.

Wiseman also required the defendants to register as sex offenders during incarceration, directing them to report to the Division of Corrections in Susupe on June 8.