Jehovah Witness elder sentenced to jail for child sexual abuse
Jehovah Witness elder sentenced to jail for child sexual abuse Western Massachusetts News
sdgtalks
Level 3 Sex Offender Found Guilty of Indecent Assault and Battery on a Child
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/F2INFNVTURGNFOD72KQIC2YEIE.jpg)
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – A 62-year-old Springfield man, classified as a Level 3 Sex Offender is facing years in jail after being found guilty on multiple counts of Indecent Assault and Battery on a Child.
The female victim in this case was 13-years-old at the time, according to the Hampden District Attorney’s Office.
Jay Aaron Smith, who serves as an elder in the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Springfield according to authorities, faced 4 Counts of Indecent Assault and Battery on a Child Under 14.
He was recently found guilty by a Hampden Superior Court jury and on Wednesday a judge sentenced him to 15 years in prison followed by 5 years probation.
According to Jim Leydon, representative of the Hampden DA’s Office, the sexual abuse happened over a number of months.
“The abuse of the child appears to have occurred over a series of several months from late 2020 through early 2021, the child would have been 13 years old at the time,” Leydon noted.
We’re told Smith previously served 10 years in prison in Georgia for rape in the late 1980′s. He was classified by the State of Massachusetts’ Sex Offender Registry Board as a Level 3 Sex Offender at the time of these offenses.
In this latest case, the Hampden DA called the female victim brave for bringing Smith to justice.
Copyright 2023. Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM). All rights reserved.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
The article discusses a case of indecent assault and battery on a child, highlighting the violation of the victim’s rights and the need for justice and protection. These issues are connected to SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, as the victim in this case is a female child. Additionally, the article addresses SDG 16, which focuses on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres
- Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children
- Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all
Based on the content of the article, the specific targets that can be identified are related to eliminating violence against women and girls (Target 5.2), ending violence against children (Target 16.2), and promoting the rule of law and equal access to justice (Target 16.3).
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months
- Indicator 16.2.2: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age group, and form of exploitation
- Indicator 16.3.1: Proportion of victims of violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities or other officially recognized mechanisms
The article does not explicitly mention indicators, but based on the identified targets, relevant indicators can be used to measure progress. Indicator 5.2.1 measures the proportion of women and girls subjected to violence by an intimate partner, which can be used to assess progress towards Target 5.2. Indicator 16.2.2 measures the number of victims of human trafficking, which is relevant to Target 16.2. Indicator 16.3.1 measures the proportion of victims of violence who report their victimization to authorities, which can be used to assess progress towards Target 16.3.
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres | Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children | Indicator 16.2.2: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age group, and form of exploitation |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all | Indicator 16.3.1: Proportion of victims of violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities or other officially recognized mechanisms |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: westernmassnews.com
Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.
