NELSPRUIT – Convicted child molester Carl Lotter (44) received a suspended sentence in the Nelspruit Regional Court today, following the abuse of two small children.
Lotter was given a four-year prison sentence, suspended for five years, which means that he is free to go home as long as he does not commit a similar offence during the next five years. He does already have a conviction and sentencing for a similar offence after he was found guilty of the sexual abuse of a nine-year-old girl in 1997. He then also received a suspended sentence.
In this case Lotter started abusing the eight- and nine-year-old daughters of a family friend. This abuse lasted for three years before it was discovered.
In a small victory for the state Lotter’s name was added to the sexual offences register, which means that he is not allowed to be (unsupervised) around children under the age of 18 years.
Specialist witnesses classified Lotter as a serial paedophile who will need intensive rehabilitation and constant assistance with his “urges”. One witness confirmed that paedophiles can not be permanently rehabilitated.
Despite this recommendation the magistrate closed his sentencing by stating that the court would not force Lotter to attend these programmes. He told Lotter that he would not make such an order. “You are employed and earning a decent salary.” He added that Lotter should take the initiative of being rehabilitated on his own.
Read the full story in Friday’s Lowvelder.
