State v. Jeremy James Chenette, C-08-CR-17-000317
LA PLATA, MD—Tony Covington, State’s Attorney for Charles County, announced that on Monday, June 17, 2019, Charles County Circuit Court Judge Amy J. Bragunier sentenced Jeremy James Chenette, 33 of Indian Head, to 16 years in prison, and an additional 84 years of suspended time, for 4 counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor.
On May 15, 2018, Chenette entered a guilty plea to the above listed charges in Charles County Circuit Court in front of the Honorable Judge Amy J. Bragunier.
On September 9, 2017, the juvenile victim and an adult relative went to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office in Waldorf to report Chenette for sexual abuse. The victim told officers that Chenette sexually assaulted him multiple times over the course of a few months.
An investigation revealed that Chenette repeatedly performed oral sex on the victim, as well as engaged in other sexual acts with him. The victim eventually reported the abuse to his mother; however, authorities were not contacted immediately. After the victim’s mother and other relatives confronted Chenette, the abuse ended. The victim was 14 years old at the time of the assaults; Chenette was 31.
During the course of the investigation, officers were able to locate a video depicting the victim receiving oral sex from Chenette on Chenette’s cell phone. Chenette also admitted to sexually assaulting the victim.
At sentencing, Assistant State’s Attorney Constance B. Kopelman, asking for a 30-year sentence, told the judge, “When you look at the devastating effect it had on the victim, this cannot be excused. [The defendant did] multiple acts that the victim cannot forget. There was a grooming pattern. He took advantage of the victim. He knew it was wrong. – It’s shocking, it’s horrible, and he should receive a serious penalty.”
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