Former Firefighter, Medic Gets 33 Years for Sex Crime: The Hampton Man Pleaded Guilty to Sodomizing

Mar 06, 12:03 PM

Current Headlines: By Mathew Paust, Daily Press, Newport News, Va.

Mar. 6--GLOUCESTER -- A former Hampton firefighter and medic, who pleaded guilty to four counts of using force to sodomize a 9-year-old boy, was ordered Monday to serve 33 years in prison.

William Lester Graham, 29, sobbed profusely in Gloucester Circuit Court as he begged forgiveness.

"I come before you a broken man," Graham started, his voice breaking as he told Judge William H. Shaw III, "I've made some terrible mistakes.

"I've hurt the ones I loved the most."

Graham, wearing the orange coveralls he was issued by the jail, where he's been held since his arrest June 8, said he had "no clue" why he did what he did.

He broke down, weeping uncontrollably and burying his face in his hands.

Earlier, Graham stared down at the defense table while the prosecution projected on a screen a photomontage Graham had admitted making of children engaged in sexual acts.

Gloucester Sheriff's Sgt. D.S. Little testified that he'd obtained the montage from Graham's computer, where the investigator said he also found a video that depicted a man sexually assaulting a young boy.

Several witnesses, testifying for the defense, described Graham as an excellent employee and a likable fellow. Each witness, however, including Graham's mother, hesitated when asked if they would trust him alone with young children. Eventually they all said they wouldn't.

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Monique Donner asked the judge to impose four consecutive life sentences.

Donner ridiculed Graham's contention that he'd made a mistake.

"To call what he did a mistake just makes what he did all the more reprehensible," she said. "He didn't make a mistake; he repetitively engaged in sadistic behavior."

Graham's attorney, Devin Hemsley, said a 10-year prison term would be more just, arguing that Graham had never been in trouble before.

"He's not a monster, even though he's responsible for monstrous acts," Hemsley said.

Shaw, who agreed with Donner that Graham's crimes were "absolutely reprehensible," said he was also taking into account that Graham had no prior criminal record and that he'd been cooperative with police.

The judge sentenced Graham to 50 years each on the four sodomy charges and a total of 10 years on one count each of possessing and producing child pornography. Shaw suspended all of the time except for the 33 years Graham must serve behind bars.

Graham displayed no emotion while listening to the sentence.

He conferred briefly with Hemsley and then was led out of the courtroom.

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