By Ashley McLeod, Staff Writer
Apr 13, 2015, 14:16
COLONIAL HEIGHTS — A 22-year-old Colonial Heights man was sentenced Thursday, April 2, to 20 years, all suspended, following his admission to molesting a 4-year-old in 2013.
Steven Brooks-Gaines was charged with two counts of felony aggravated sexual battery and one misdemeanor count of assault on a family member.
According to Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Ashley Henderson, the abuse took place between May 1 and August 10 of 2013. She spoke of one incident where Brooks-Gaines and the child went into the woods at night, and he then asked the child to scratch the area of his genitals.
Brooks-Gaines was arrested in July of 2014 and charged for these actions.
Henderson also said that other events may have occurred, but the child had a difficult time remembering everything. A psychologist who interviewed the child told the commonwealth that children of that age have trouble remembering things and that it is a common problem with cases such as this.
There was no physical evidence or signs that the abuse took place, but Brooks-Gaines did admit to molesting the child.
A previous plea deal was entered in court in February but was rejected by the judge. This deal would have sentenced Brooks-Gaines to 12 months in jail with 11 months and five days suspended, putting him behind bars for 25 days.
Following the rejection of this plea agreement, Brooks-Gaines’ defense attorney requested to be taken off the case, and a new attorney was brought in. A new judge was also appointed for the new trial date.
The new trial offered up a new plea agreement between the defendant and the commonwealth. Brooks-Gaines would plead guilty to one count of aggravated sexual battery, while the other two charges would be nolle prosequi, or set aside.
The judge accepted this plea agreement, and Brooks-Gaines was sentenced to 20 years, all suspended, as well as 20 years of probation. He must also register as a sex offender.
If Brook-Gaines committed another crime, he could be ordered by a judge to serve any part of the 20-year sentence.
