39 Year-Old Man Convicted of Sex Assault on 5 Year-Old Girl

John Francisco Leslie

Thirty-nine-year-old John Francisco Leslie has been convicted of sexually assaulting a minor earlier this year.  The incident involving a five-year-old girl reportedly occurred in April when Leslie took the child to his house and assaulted her.  In court today, Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith called the little girl to the stand; however, her identity was concealed from the gathering.   After asking a series of questions in order to discern her ability to tell right from wrong, she was allowed to give her testimony under oath.  The child recounted vividly the sexual act that took place that day.  The infant’s mother also testified that she was informed of the incident immediately after it happened and that the child was taken to the police station where a social worker intervened and took down the report.  In Leslie’s defense, he told the court that on the day of the incident he arrived home at three p.m. and met his children playing with the five-year-old girl.  Leslie said that later that same day the child’s father came looking for her and that’s when he was accused of having taken her into his home.  Despite his oral statement, the Chief Magistrate was upset after hearing the child’s testimony which she said was no different than the evidence provided to the police back in April.  Leslie, who appeared unrepresented, faces three years in prison.  Sentencing has been reserved for November thirtieth when he will be able to call character witnesses to speak on his behalf.