Thanks to Assistant District Attorney Tito Valdes of our Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit for helping secure justice in late September in a case involving a defendant who repeatedly sent sexually-explicit text messages to his 15-year-old stepdaughter from June to July of 2020 in which he attempted to solicit the victim. The defendant played a prominent role in her life as a father figure since she was 2 years old. The defendant was found guilty by a jury of Criminal Solicitation – IDSI Person Less Than 16 Years of Age, Unlawful Contact with a Minor, and Corruption of a Minor. Despite the judge giving the jury a missing evidence instruction, ADA Valdes was able to convince the jury of the defendant’s culpability beyond a reasonable doubt and secure a conviction. The defendant is scheduled for sentencing by the Hon. Deborah D. Cianfrani on January 9, 2023.