A man was sentenced to 31 years in prison and paid an 11-year fine for raping his stepdaughter in Joinville, northern Santa Catarina. The violence began in 2009 when the victim was 9 years old.

The rape occurred between the ages of 9 and 20. Photo: Elsa Fiusa/Agência Brasil

According to the MPSC (Public Ministry), the child’s stepfather took advantage of the moments when he was alone with her to commit rapes. The crimes took place at the construction site where the defendants worked, and in two residential buildings. The building and one of the houses were in the municipality of Almirante Tamandare in Paraná. Another, in Joinville.

Years passed, and the stepfather’s sexual abuse did not stop. According to a public criminal case, between 2015 and 2019, when she was between 15 and 19 years old, the defendant embarrassed and threatened her stepdaughter to have sex with him.

The complaint states that the rapes continued until the victim was in her 20s. According to what was established during the investigation of the criminal case, the victim did not tell other people about the rapes, as she was afraid of the aggressor, who was violent and constantly beat her mother.

Responsible for the 1st Attorney’s Office of the District of Joinville, Attorney Germano Krause de Freitas, explains that “in the face of the fear imposed by the accused on the victim as a result of his aggressive behavior, sexual violence was committed for a period of more than 11 years, that is, from nine to 20 years” .

The verdict was handed down by the 1st Criminal Court of the Joinville District on September 26. He was sentenced to 31 years, one month and 10 days of maximum security imprisonment for the crimes of rape of a vulnerable person and rape. He was also ordered to pay BRL 10,000 to the victim in reparation for the damage caused. The case is classified, the accused is in pre-trial detention.