Joseph Silva is an evil person who hurt those who trusted him, prosecutors said in court Wednesday.
But, because of the strength and courage of a small group of young women, Silva will not be able to do that anymore, Detective Joseph Martin added.
Silva, 35, formerly of Swansea, will spend almost all of his life in prison or on probation after pleading guilty to using his job as an equestrian trainer at stables in Berkley and Swansea to seduce girls, take pornographic pictures of them and share those pictures with others.
He agreed on Tuesday to 270 months — 22.5 years — in federal custody for the sexual exploitation of a child, transportation of and possession of child pornography.
He was brought into Bristol County Superior Court Wednesday where he admitted his guilt before Judge Robert Kane to statutory rape, posing a child in the nude for photographs, possession of child pornography, indecent assault on a child younger than 14 and disseminating photographs of a child in the nude.
Silva was sentenced to 20 years in prison, to run concurrently with his federal sentence, and to 20 years of probation that will begin when he completes his federal sentence and probation.
“The man before you is not a good man,” one young woman testified before Silva was sentenced. “He likes to prey on children to fulfill his fantasies.”
The woman, one of the victims in the case, was not identified by name. She told the court that she was just one of Silva’s victims to attempt suicide.
“Before I met him, I was a happy and healthy teenage girl. That slowly went downhill. The ways I let him into my life because I trusted him I will regret forever.
“I wasn’t his first victim and I wasn’t the last. There is no punishment enough for what he has done.”
Karen Lynne Fabrizio of Pembroke, a close relative of one of the victims, also addressed Silva. Silva faced Fabrizio, as he faced all the victims, without visible emotion.
“You hurt people so much with what you have done,” she said. “You took away their childhood.
“You need to know that the sickness you have is the poison that will destroy you.”
After the hearing, Fabrizio added: “I just want the girls to know to always speak up. Don’t be afraid. Speak up, as scary as it is.
“To the parents, make sure you listen to your children. And it is never the child’s fault. It is never their fault.”
The case began when a Swansea teenager went to the police and met with Detective Joseph A. Martin and Sgt. Gregory Ryan. Silva was arrested March 28, 2007, at his home on Dillon Lane in Swansea.
“The reason he is convicted and going to prison lies with this group of amazing young women,” Martin said after the sentencing. “They had the strength and fortitude to keep going.
“Because of that, they saved countless other girls from the same fate.”
The plea agreement was worked out between prosecutor Silvia Rudman and defense lawyer Joseph J. Balliro Jr.
Silva must serve his federal sentence. With a sentence of 22.5 years, he must spend 18 years in federal prison before he is eligible for parole. His state sentence will be served at the same time.
Once he finishes his federal obligation, he will be on state probation for 20 years. During that time he must register as a sex offender, have no contact with the victims or with minors, cannot use a computer except for his work, will be subject to random, warrantless searches if he has computer equipment in his home and will be required to remain in Massachusetts except with the permission of his probation officer.
Silva has been in custody intermittently since his arrest. He was granted bail but that bail was revoked after he contacted one of the victims in the case.
Kane gave Silva prison credit for the time he has already served.
E-mail Kevin P. O’Connor at koconnor@heraldnews.com.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Former equestrian Silva gets 22.5 years for exploitation, child porn charges
Fall River —
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