Child abuse sentencing in Brazil

Recent legal developments in Brazil have resulted in significant prison sentences for individuals convicted of child sexual abuse.

In Santa Catarina, a man received a sentence of 62 years and four months for abusing his partner’s three granddaughters over a seven-year period. The crimes were identified after the victims reported the incidents to school staff.

In Goiás, a couple in Morrinhos was sentenced to a combined total of nearly 400 years in prison for the abuse of approximately ten children and the possession of child pornography. The Court of Justice of Goiás (TJGO) handed down sentences of 204 years, 4 months, and 10 days for the man, and 159 years and 17 days for the woman.

Investigations revealed the pair targeted at least ten children, aged between 3 and 7 years, between 2021 and 2025. The suspects used their own daughter to lure victims to their home under the guise of playdates, while the woman also offered babysitting services to neighbors to gain access to victims. The crimes were discovered after the couple’s daughter found messages on her mother’s phone regarding nudity. A search of electronic devices uncovered approximately 230 gigabytes of child abuse material, including recordings of the crimes.

The ruling included the revocation of parental rights and mandated financial compensation: R$ 30,000 for each victim of sexual abuse and R$ 10,000 for each child whose images were stored.