-For abusing a 5-year-old boy
BY: Shallon S. Gonlor
NIMBA COUNTY: – The Sexual Offenses Division Court at the 8th Judicial Circuit in Nimba County has sentenced a 20-year-old man, Shadrach Quito, to 30 years in prison for sexually abusing a 5-year-old boy in Tappita, Lower Nimba County.
Judge Musa S. Sidibey handed the 30-year jail term after the convict pleaded guilty following the reading of his indictment for the commission of the crime of statutory rape against the 5-year-old minor. The convict, Shadrach Quito, has been incarcerated at the Sanniquellie Central Prison to spend three decades behind bars.
The court ruling on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, indicated that the convict’s 20 of the 30 years will be served in common jail, and the remaining 10 years will be ordered suspended under the supervision of the Division of Probation of the Ministry of Justice.
The ruling comes based on a plea bargain agreement executed by and between the State and Public Defense Counsel with the acknowledgment of the convict.
“Wherefore and given the foregoing, the defendant in the dock is adjudged guilty for the commission of the crime of statutory rape and is hereby sentenced to the prison term of 30 years. 20 of the 30 years will be served by the defendant in common jail, and the remaining 10 years will be ordered suspended under the supervision of the Division of Probation of the Ministry of Justice. The clerk is ordered to prepare a commitment and have same placed in the hands of the sheriff of this court to give effect to the ruling herein.”
“Given the foregoing circumstances in part, and the law cited and predicated upon the plea of guilty of the defendant coupled with his plea of mercy, this court will now sentence the defendant based on the plea bargain entered by and between the Ministry of Justice and the Public Defense Office with the consent of the defendant.”
Judge Sidibey’s ruling added: “The court, however, sentenced defendant, Shadrach Quito, to 30 years imprisonment with eligibility for parole based on the attitude and report from the correction office after 20 years.
He further stated: “The convict shall serve 20 years imprisonment, and thereafter, he will be ordered released to serve his remaining 10 years on probation to live in his community under the watch of the parole officer of the Ministry of Justice. His sentence period commenced from the date of his arrest and detention.”
According to the ruling, the counsel for the defendant, by leave of court, informed the court that during the last sitting on the matter, a mandate was directed to the parties to reach a plea bargain agreement based on the voluntary confession of the defendant and requested for a plea bargain agreement by and between the parties with the consent of the defendant.
“This court takes judicial notice of the case file that the plea bargain agreement filed with the clerk of this court on December 10, 2024, at the hour of 10:20 instant. The court also takes judicial notice of the counts contained in the plea bargain agreement, particularly count five for sentencing, which averred that the defendant be sentenced to serve 30 years imprisonment. And that 10 of the 30 years be suspended to allow the defendant to be fully monitored by all officers of the Republic of Liberia,” the court ruling stated.
The convict, Shadrach Quito, was indicted by the Grand Jury of Nimba County in August 2024 for statutory rape against a 5-year-old minor. He was arrested in June 2024 and then forwarded to court to face prosecution for the commission of the crime of statutory rape.
