Released just a month after serving time for prior sex crimes against minors

Unrelated to this article. [iclickart]
Unrelated to this article. [iclickart]

A man in his 30s who followed a middle school girl walking alone and tried to get her into his car has been sentenced to prison.

The man had previously served two prison terms for sex crimes against minors and attempted a similar offense just one month after his release.

According to legal sources Friday, Judge Song In-cheol of the Ulsan District Court's Criminal Division 9 sentenced the defendant, identified only as A, to six months in prison on charges of attempted enticement of a minor.

According to the ruling, A spotted a middle school girl, identified as B, sitting alone on a sidewalk in front of a mart in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, one night in June and began loitering nearby. A then parked a rental car close to B and approached, asking, "Why are you alone? Is something wrong?"

When B replied that nothing was wrong, A pressed further, asking whether B was a student and offering to drive B home or buy a coffee.

When B sensed something was off and tried to leave, saying home was right nearby, A said, "I'm not a bad person. I'll watch to make sure you get home safely."

As B tried to leave the scene, A drove around the area repeatedly and, upon spotting B again, continued to watch.

When B made eye contact with A, B panicked, walked around the mart and called B's mother, and the incident was reported to police.

The investigation revealed that A had twice been sentenced to prison for sex crimes against minors and was caught trying to lure a teenager again just one month after release.

The court said the victim and the victim's family "would have experienced considerable fear," that A had not been forgiven by the victim, and that the offense was committed during a repeat-offender period. The court did, however, take into account that the crime did not progress beyond an attempt.


jshan@heraldcorp.com