Virginia Man Convicted of Attempted Sexual Assault of a 7-year-old in Elmhurst Gets Six Years in Prison
Because of the young victim's courage, Parikh Priyang will "spend the next six years of his life behind bars," State's Attorney Robert Berlin said.
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A Virginia man convicted of attempting to sexually assault a then 7-year-old girl at an Elmhurst banquet hall in 2010, was sentenced Friday to six years in prison, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.
Priyang Parikh, 31, of Alexandria, Va., was convicted on Oct. 18 of one count of attempted predatory criminal sexual assault of a child (a Class 1 Felony) and one count of sexual exploitation of a child (a Class 4 Felony). The jury deliberated about three hours.
Friday's sentencing stems from allegations that Parikh left his home in Virginia to attend the Sept. 5 wedding reception, despite not knowing the bride or groom, or anyone else in attendance. Testimony during his trial indicated he was so involved in the reception that he appeared in photos and videos taken during the ceremony.
During the reception, Parikh lured a young girl into a private room by offering her candy. He then told the girl to close her eyes and open her mouth, and proceded to pull down his pants and expose his penis to her. The girl screamed and Parikh fled the banquet hall. The victim and some of her young friends chased after him as he ran into the parking lot holding up his pants, according to testimony.
“On Sept. 5, 2010, after traveling hundreds of miles, Mr. Parikh entered that banquet hall with one thing on his mind,” DuPage County State's Attorney Berlin said. “He was looking for an easy target, someone to satisfy his sick sexual desires. What he found, however, was anything but an easy target. He found a young girl who had the courage to stand up to him. Because of this young girl’s courage, Mr. Parikh will now spend the next six years of his life behind bars."
Berlin thanked the Elmhurst police, "particularly Det. John Tarpey and Officer Alexander Kefaloukos for their exceptional work in identifying and apprehending Mr. Parikh."
Parikh will be required to serve 50 percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole.
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Dan
6:17 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Sentenced to 6 years and really will only have to serve 3 years. Does this mean the individual that was sentenced to 3 years recently after being arrested at three different Elmhurst schools will be eligible for parole in 1 1/2 years? We need truth in sentencing laws and longer sentencing for sex offenders that prey on little kids. The statistics are that a sex offender that spends time in jail is 4 times more likely to end up back in jail than an ex convict that was in jail for any other reason. It is time to stop the repeat sex offenders with 2 strikes and your out!
Floyd
10:06 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Dan I agree, this day for a day crap needs to STOP, especially for Sexual abusers & predators. There should be no second chances for people like this, sexual predators are not worth the shit they leave in the pot. Lets hope he gets what he deserves while hes down state behind bars. Believers in the New testament say its for us to forgive, but the ones abused will never forget! Where is the judgment & Testament in that. I Hope All sexual predators Burn in HELL!
Dan
9:13 am on Saturday, February 2, 2013
Floyd, I'm not interested in longer sentences to see the sex offenders punished. I don't think jail will rehabilitate them. I'm only interested in seeing our kids to remain safe. Our kids aren't safe when we allow sex offender that have been arrested multiple times at middle and elementary schools to be released back into situations where they have already proven that they can't handle themselves.
JAY JAY
10:01 am on Saturday, February 2, 2013
Let's allhope that he is allowed to use the exercize yard with the other prisoners
so he can meet his Allah real soon.....
Mary
2:52 pm on Saturday, February 2, 2013
We need to get rid of Porn in all its forms! Where are our politicians? It's Porn that first seduces men into their sick thinking and soon after sick behavior. Close down the "adult" stores, the "gentlemen" clubs which are for beasts not real men, who should have respect for all wiomen, no matter the age!!!
JAY JAY
4:54 pm on Saturday, February 2, 2013
MARY
You say where are our politicians on porn !!!
Hell they are amoung the big time enjoyers, offenders and solicitors of porn and prostitutes in the USA.............What country do you live in girl?
Look at SENATOR MENENDEZ who went to the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
FOR SEX WITH UNDER AGE CHILDREN !!!!!!!!!!! Just reported on the news last week that he took 3 trips there on a donor's private jet. Wake up please!
F C
8:53 am on Sunday, February 3, 2013
How people behave is not the responsibility of the Gov't! The issue here is the protection of our children. Statistics have always shown that the sick mind of child sex abuser is not possible of rehabilitation. Send them to jail and upon release, chemical castration should work.
Leo
3:33 pm on Monday, February 4, 2013
There should be a lot more people spending time in jail, but there is no room for them. It is a very nice dream that we put people in jail, but they don't stay long, as there is no more room. The great Gov. Quinn has seen to that, he is closing down two prisons for "economic reasons". Where are all those inmates going to go, there is no room in other prisons, you got it right back on the streets. Go to the Illinois Prison Website, there are people sentenced to six years, and they are out in nine months. Prisons are no longer there to rehabilitate people, they are there to warehouse the dregs of society and keep them away from good citizens. When the warehouse if full, the gates will open. I applaude the courts who have forced the criminals/politicians who now must let law abiding citizens carry a firearm to protect themselves against the actual criminals, not the thieves we know as our politicians.