Melbourne Man To Prison For Thirty-Five Years

by Kevin Gillick

Despite claims that he has found religion in jail, as well as expert testimony suggesting he is unlikely to reoffend, Gilbert Viruet (50) was sentenced to serve thirty-five years in prison followed by five years of probation. 

Judge David Dugan made the ruling January 28, in Viera,  brushing aside Viruet’s attempt to reduce the prosecution’s sentencing recommendation, that resulted from his plea agreement last August. 

Charged originally with 110, felony sex crimes, Viruet could have received a life sentence for each charge.  All but six counts were dropped according to the terms of  the plea bargain.

The victim, now sixteen, said she was sexually assaulted “…two or three times per week”,  beginning at the age of seven and continuing through age  thirteen.  She read a statement describing how Viruet would chase her around the house and drag her into the bedroom.

Standing at the podium, flanked by a victim advocate, the child said she suffers from sleep disorders and a compulsion to cut herself.  She told the court that on several occasions, she pressed Viruet’s own handgun to her head and considered suicide.

Viruet’s attorney, Stephan Mays, told the court that his client had a law enforcement background and a clean criminal record.  He said Viruet is a former police officer who once worked for the security firm: Blackwater.  Mays asked the court to depart from the terms of the plea agreement and sentence his client to probation.

Viruet testified that he is “…not same man who was arrested in 2008.” He said he has found a new relationship with God and wanted to help others who sexually abuse children. 

Psychologist,  Dr. Ted Shaw also took the stand for the defense.  A specialist in sexual disorders,  he said Viruet suffers from pedophilia.  Shaw told the court that according to his evaluation, he considered Viruet to be in a class of offenders who are least likely to reoffend. The court designated Viruet as a Sexual Predator – the class of sex offender deemed most likely to reoffend. 

Judge Dugan deducted nearly three years from the prison sentence, crediting Viruet for the time he has spent in jail, since his arrest in March 2008.

Court Monitors from Protect Our Children were in attendance for the hearing.

Tags: Dr. Shaw, Dugan, Melbourne, plea bargain, reoffend, sentence, sex crimes, Viera, Viruet

This entry was posted on January 28, 2011 at 5:45 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.