A man in Lake Havasu was sentenced to lengthy imprisonment for having sex with a teenager. Judge Billy Sipe sentenced 25-year-old Neil Ferrara to 15 years in prison at a sentencing hearing in Kingman on Tuesday.
Ferrara was found guilty of having sex with a minor in a jury trial that ended in Kingman on June 14. Mojave County Deputy Attorney Amanda Clairhaut told the jury that Ferrara and the 14-year-old girl had committed their conduct to a private citizen after they entered the establishment in October 2021 where the defendant and the victim worked in Block 1400. He said he witnessed and engaged in sexual acts.Dover Avenue
The victim’s grandfather told Judge Billy Sipe during Tuesday’s sentencing hearing that the girl had a tough childhood, her parents were poor and did their best to raise her.
Clairhaut said Ferrara was aware of the boy’s family’s difficulties and was using her emotional instability for personal gain. “He preyed on her and took great advantage of her,” she said.
Grandfather expressed some sympathy for Ferrara and his supporters.
“I am truly sorry to the defendant and his family,” he said, demonstrating that the victims of the incident were not innocent. “Unfortunately, my granddaughter was probably more than willing to participate.”
Judge Sipe said, “It doesn’t matter if she willingly participates.” “Our society is full of stop signs. One of the stop signs says that if you are an adult, you cannot have sex with a minor… We have put in place a very important stop sign in the criminal justice system.”
Ferrara could face 13 to 20 years in prison before the hearing began. Judge Sipe credited the defendant for showing strong support from his friends and family.
Saipe said there were strong signs that Ferrara was a “decent human being” but that a 23-year-old man having sex with a 14-year-old girl needed stronger punishment.
Sipe ordered Ferrara to follow sex offender registration procedures for the rest of his life after his release from prison.
