(Trigger Warning: Child Sexual Abuse)
Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Abusing Child in His Care for Decade
NORFOLK, Va. – Lawrence “Trey” White III, 36, pleaded guilty to and was convicted of seven felony child sexual abuse charges on Wednesday after admitting to molesting a child entrusted to his care between 2008 and 2018.
The victim, then 7 years old, moved in with Mr. White, then 20, because the victim’s mother wanted her to grow up in his house that was in a better neighborhood. However, Mr. White immediately began to groom the victim, touch her inappropriately, and make her shower with him. Mr. White’s abuse of the victim elevated to include rape attempts, oral sodomy, nude photography, and other acts that Mr. White would sometimes incentivize by writing her letters, giving her money, and promising to buy her presents. Mr. White’s abuse continued until the victim was 17 years old, at which point she began seeking help to move out.
Early last year, the victim contacted police in her city of residence to report the sexual abuse she suffered as a child after becoming aware that Mr. White was residing with a girlfriend who had a young daughter. Norfolk Police Special Crimes Unit detectives interviewed the victim, Mr. White’s then-girlfriend, and Mr. White, who admitted to a minimized version of his wrongdoing. After securing warrants for his arrest, Norfolk detectives took Mr. White into custody, and Child Protective Services put in place a safety plan to ensure the other young girl was not also a victim of abuse by Mr. White.
On Wednesday, Mr. White pleaded guilty to the object sexual penetration of a victim under 13 years old, the forcible sodomy of a victim under 13 years old, attempting to rape a victim under 13 years old, three counts of the aggravated sexual battery of a victim under 13 years old, and taking indecent liberties with a child as their custodian. Judge Joseph C. Lindsey accepted Mr. White’s plea with no agreement to his sentence, which is docketed to be determined on Aug. 9.
“I am thankful for the courage of the survivor in this case, who took action to prevent Mr. White from abusing another child,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “We could not have secured Mr. White’s guilty plea without her, and we will seek a sentence for Mr. White that will protect the community and fit his crimes. My thoughts remain with the survivor as she continues to heal.”
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie G. Johnson is prosecuting Mr. White’s case on behalf of the Commonwealth, and Norfolk Police Detective Brian C. Williams led the investigation.
If you have or someone you love has fallen victim to crime, including but not limited to child abuse, resources are available at the Norfolk Family Justice Center. For more information, please visit norfolkfjc.org, call 757-330-0376 or stop by the NFJC inside the Park Place Multi-Services Center at 606 W. 29th St., between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. If you are in crisis, call the 24/7 hotline by dialing 757-251-0144. In an emergency, please call 911.
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