Collin Sims, District Attorney reports that today (February 16, 2024), 41 year-old Daniel Lascari of Covington was sentenced by District Judge Scott Gardner to 50 years in prison for molestation of a juvenile and sexual battery of a child.
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On December 21, 2023, a 12-person jury found Lascari guilty of both charges following a 4-day trial. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Elizabeth Authement and Casey Allen. Following the verdict on December 21st, Mr. Sims stated, “This case is a tremendous example of this office’s commitment to vigorously prosecute these types of cases and our dedicated prosecutors’ relentless pursuit of justice in the face of obstacles encountered during the prosecution of this child’s sexual abuser. Additionally, it is essential to the successful prosecution of these cases the dedication shown in this case by teachers, counselors, law enforcement officers, medical professionals, and our partners at the Children’s Advocacy Center.”
At sentencing, the victim’s handwritten impact statement was read aloud in the courtroom prior to the imposition of sentencing. She explained how her “life had been ruined” by the defendant and that she “knew [he] didn’t care”. She asked the judge to “give him the max” sentence allowed by law.
During the December trial, testimony from witnesses established that in March of 2018, the then 8-year-old victim told her teacher that when she went to the bathroom, she noticed she was bleeding. The teacher brought her to the counselor’s office. The victim then reported to the counselor that she might be “starting her period” or that it could be because her mother’s fiancé “got carried away last night.” She went on to describe to the counselor what the man had been doing to her for approximately 8 months. School officials immediately notified law enforcement of the situation and an investigation commenced. During the course of the investigation, the victim disclosed how her mother’s fiancé would come into her bedroom at night, move her from a top bunk to a bottom bunk and rub peppermint lotion all over her body, including inside her private area. While he was doing this, he told her “this is the way people relax.” She was able to describe in detail how he moved his fingers and how he’d once made her massage his private part.
The mother of the victim testified at the trial that she was reluctant to have the victim testify because she was concerned about her daughter. Following the disclosure, she relocated with her daughter to another state. She described in painful detail the toll that the abuse took on the victim. She told the jury how the victim spent over a year in counseling and would likely need further treatment. Despite the mother’s reservations, she said that she relented when the victim insisted she was finally ready to confront her abuser in court.
