Teen sentenced to 6 years for child rape curses at judge in open court

A teenager convicted of raping a child and filming the assault was sentenced to six years in prison, then erupted in profanity and caused a disturbance in the courtroom immediately after the verdict was read.

The Busan District Court's Criminal Division 6, presided over by Chief Judge Im Seong-cheol, sentenced the defendant, identified only as A, on Friday on charges of violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Youth Against Sex Offenses, including the production of sexual exploitation material. The court also ordered A to complete 80 hours of a sexual violence treatment program and barred him from working at institutions serving children, youth and people with disabilities for five years.

A was indicted on charges of taking a girl under the age of 13, identified as B, to his residence in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, and to a lodging facility on Jan. 5 and 6, where he raped her and filmed the acts.

Investigators found that A had sent B threatening direct messages on Instagram to lure her to specific locations before carrying out the crimes.

During the trial, it also emerged that A had previously received protective dispositions under the Juvenile Act on multiple occasions.

Prosecutors had sought a 10-year prison term and requested that A's personal information be publicly disclosed, along with a seven-year employment ban.

A's defense appealed for leniency, saying he had denied some of the charges during the police investigation but had since recognized his wrongdoing and was sincerely remorseful.

The victim's family, however, rejected any settlement and petitioned the court for the harshest possible punishment.

According to News1, A shouted expletives immediately after sentencing and punched the courtroom door. Court officials moved to restrain him, while crying was heard from the public gallery.

The court said the crimes were "extremely grave and of poor character," noting they were committed against a young victim who was mentally immature and unable to defend herself. It said it took into account that A had not been forgiven by the victim, that the victim's legal guardian had petitioned for severe punishment, and that A had been disciplined multiple times for rule violations while in custody.

The court added that it had weighed in A's favor the fact that he admitted to the crimes and that he was 18 years old at the time.