Press Releases
11/12/2021
Coventry Man Sentenced for 2009 Sexual Assaults
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Vernon, CT) – Matthew C. Gedansky, Tolland State’s Attorney, announced today that Jonathan Kane, 28, of Coventry, has been sentenced to 33 months in prison for the sexual assaults of a minor that occurred in 2009 in Coventry.
Kane was sentenced in Rockville Superior Court on November 10, 2021, on a charge of Risk of Injury to a Minor. The sentencing was the result of a plea agreement. The sentence imposed by Superior Court Judge Kathleen E. McNamara was eight years, execution suspended after 33 months, with three years of probation. The case was prosecuted by Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Alison Kubas.
The victim in this case was 10 years old at the time of the sexual assaults that occurred on two separate occasions. The victim reported the sexual assaults to authorities 10 years after they occurred after she came in contact with Kane again. The report resulted in an investigation in which Kane admitted to the conduct, and was subsequently arrested, according to court records.
After lengthy discussions between the State, the defense counsel and the victim, the parties came to an agreement. At sentencing, the victim gave an impact statement to the court, telling her story of pain and suffering throughout her childhood. She outlined to the court her struggles due to the crimes committed against her, but also detailed how she has persevered despite every obstacle. Today, the victim stands with a Bachelor’s Degree, works two jobs, and is currently in nursing school. A particularly compelling part of her statement was the following:
“Your honor, I beg you to please protect the children that are sexually assaulted daily. I beg you to be the voice for children like me who did not know how to use them. I beg of you to please stop letting the justice system fail us for what we couldn’t understand. I beg you to please do your part. I had nothing to gain from these experiences, only to lose. I beg you to please, please believe those who come in front of you. I beg you to protect us: the daughters, sisters, friends, family. Although I am no longer that little girl, she is always with me. I will never not be her. Every day I am her, just a stronger and older version of the little girl 12 years ago who was stripped of everything she wanted. I can promise you, not all adults or children are going to be as strong as I am. I am just lucky that teenage girl was unsuccessful in that suicide attempt to stand before you today, not everyone will be as lucky. Not everyone will be as strong as me to deal with this every day, but I try to keep my life on the right path. I almost was not in front of you today. When a child comes out about what happened, even if it doesn’t entirely make sense, comprehend it, think about it, and please believe them. I wish someone would’ve understood me like they do now.”