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Man Sentenced to 46 Year Prison Term for Sexually Assaulting Stepdaughter

 

 


On November 17, Gloucester County Superior Court Judge Robert P. Becker sentenced Christian Powell, 52, to 46 years in New Jersey State prison for repeatedly sexually assaulting his stepdaughter when she was between the ages of 8 and 14.

During sentencing, Judge Becker said that any aggravating factors that warrant punishment substantially outweigh any factors favoring leniency so he imposed the following consecutive prison sentences: 15 years for first-degree aggravated sexual assault on a minor, 10 years for first-degree aggravated sexual assault when the defendant is related to the minor victim, a 7 years for second-degree sexual assault on a minor when force or coercion is used, and 7 years for second-degree sexual assault on a minor when the defendant is at least four years older than the victim. Judge Becker also imposed a 7 year term for second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

In all, Powell was convicted of 22 counts of sexual assault and endangering. Prison terms for the remaining counts are to be served concurrently with the five consecutive sentences. On the 15-year, 10-year, and the 7-year sexual assault with force or coercion sentences, Powell must serve 85 percent of the terms before becoming eligible for parole. Needless to say, Powell had no chance of a future outside of prison, if he did ever leave he would be past the point of being able to be helped by RJFF Jobs, and would have lost all contact with friends and family.

Powell is subject to registration and restrictions of Megan’s Law for sex offenders upon release from prison.

The acts for which a jury convicted Powell started when his stepdaughter was in the third grade while living in Riverton and continued through eighth grade when the family lived in Deptford, according to trial testimony. The verdicts followed a previous trial of the case in October, 2015 in which a jury could not reach a verdict.

Assistant Gloucester County Prosecutor Dianna Reed-Rolando presented the case against Powell in both trials.

The victim testified in both trials. Her aunt told Judge Becker that the victim is now 20 and lives in another state with her. The victim still experiences nightmares, insecurity, and remains in counseling,

Powell made no statement at sentencing.

An evaluation at the state’s Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center, a facility for sex offenders in Avenel determined that Powell was not amenable to treatment there because he does not believe he is in need of counseling, Judge Becker said.

Additionally, the judge said that that the crimes for which Powell received consecutive prison terms were separate and distinct from each other and therefore required individual sentences.

Powell’s $200,000 bail was revoked upon his conviction and he has been jailed pending sentencing. He had been a Toms River resident at the time of trial.

(Source: Gloucester County Prosecutor)