A 43-year-old Solano man may spend the rest of his life behind state prison bars for child sex crimes.
Appearing in Department 23 on Friday, Anthony Maurice Mason heard Solano County Superior Court Judge John B. Ellis order him to serve 50 years to life for two counts of continuous sexual abuse of a minor under 14 years of age. Ellis also required Mason to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life should he ever be paroled.
The lengthy sentence came after family members of the victims made “a powerful impact statement to the court” in the Justice Center in Fairfield, Solano County District Attorney Krishna Abrams said in a press release issued late Friday afternoon.
A jury at his trial’s end on June 1 found Mason guilty of both counts and jurors also found to be true that he committed the crimes involving substantial sexual conduct against two children, Abrams added in the prepared statement.
Court records showed that from March 6, 2014, through Dec. 31, 2016, Mason began to commit these offenses against the children when they were 10 years old.
During this time period, the children were “placed in the defendant’s trust and care,” Abrams noted, adding that they were afraid to disclose the crimes initially “because the defendant was an amateur boxer and had physically disciplined them and made threats.”
Eventually the children revealed the abuse to each other. The older child came forward to a teacher on Jan. 9, 2017, the first day back from winter break.
“Both victims courageously testified at the jury trial,” said Abrams.
Mason will remain in custody at the Claybank Detention Facility in Fairfield until he is transferred to a prison within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Deputy District Attorney Barry Shapiro led the prosecution. Victim Witness Advocate Shamar Lewis provided victim advocacy and support to the victim.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault and need the assistance of an advocate, call 784-6827 or the Family Justice Center at 784-7635, Abrams said.
Source: www.mercurynews.com