Trigger Warning: Child Sexual Abuse
Man Pleads Guilty to Taking Indecent Liberties With Norfolk Child in 2021
NORFOLK, Va. — Anthony Artis, 46, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to taking indecent liberties with an 11-year-old child in 2021 at the residence where he lived with the child’s family. Mr. Artis’ abuse included being sexually suggestive to the child and propositioning the child for sexual acts in exchange for money. The child called a crisis hotline and 911 to report Mr. Artis, and child protective services and police investigators responded to the house. A safety plan was put in place, and the child’s family relocated.
Mr. Artis initially pleaded not guilty to his resulting charges — one count of taking indecent liberties with a child under 15 years of age and soliciting to commit aggravated sexual battery against a child under 13 years of age — and opted for a jury trial set to begin on Tuesday. On Tuesday, Mr. Artis entered a plea agreement to plead guilty to the indecent liberties charge and face an active sentence not to exceed the mid-point of Mr. Artis’ state sentencing guidelines, which will be calculated pending his sentencing hearing. Judge David W. Lannetti accepted Mr. Artis’ plea agreement, found Mr. Artis guilty, and set his sentencing hearing for March 28.
“I commend the bravery of the survivor in this case. She came forward and helped us secure a conviction against Mr. Artis,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “We are judged as a society on whether we protect our children. My prosecutors and I are committed to holding accountable the people who betray our children and our trust.”
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Anthony J. Comento is prosecuting Mr. Artis’ case, and Norfolk Police Detective Daniel A. Beasley 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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