Jurors Weep Watching Toddler's Rape Video
POSTED: Wednesday, December 20, 2006
UPDATED: 9:11 am EST December 21,
2006
Jurors in Volusia County, Fla., wept Wednesday as they watch video of a 46-year-old's alleged sexual attack of a 2-year-old girl during a time the man was supposed to be baby-sitting the toddler.
Richard Sylvia was arrested in June 2005 after being accused of raping a 2-year-old girl and videotaping the incident.
The girl's mother told jurors about a videotape she saw involving her daughter.
"I recognized it as my daughter lying there naked with Mr. Sylvia in some type of shirt with his privates showing and him having his hands in between my daughter's legs," the victim's mother said.
Jurors who viewed the video during Wednesday's trial were brought to tears, Local 6's Tarik Minor said.
"This is by far one of the most disturbing videos I've ever seen as my career as a journalist," Local 6's Tarik Minor said. "Sylvia was wearing lingerie and fingernail polish in one of the sickening scenes."
Police said one of Sylvia's friends found the videotape showing the alleged attack in a storage unit where he was living.
Investigators said there were more apparent victims on the tape.
"I observed the subject in a partially clothed and then sometimes naked state," Seminole County sheriff's Sgt. Dan Purcell said. "I also observed what appeared to be a very young juvenile female lying on a couch."
Attorneys said there are two other children who were allegedly sexually assaulted and videotaped by Sylvia. Their parents are also pressing charges.
Both the prosecution and defense rested their cases Wednesday.
Jurors are expected to make their decision Thursday afternoon.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
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