Defendant: Jard Hobbs (DOB 05/05/73)
May 31, 2018 -- Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced today that Jard Hobbs was sentenced to 32 years in state prison for engaging in sexual intercourse and other sex acts with a child who is disabled while he was entrusted as her caregiver while her single mother worked. The abuse began when the child was about 11 and lasted for about a year.
Hobbs was sentenced to the maximum possible for the following charges:
- Course of Sexual Conduct against a Child in the First Degree, a class B violent felony -- 25 years
- Rape in the Second Degree, a class D violent felony – seven years
In addition, he was sentenced to one year for Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class A misdemeanor.
The first two sentences will run consecutively for 32 years. The one year on the misdemeanor charge will be served as part of the longer sentence. As part of his sentence, Hobbs must appear for post-release supervision and he will have to register as a sex offender before he is released from prison.
Prosecutors stated the sexual abuse began when the child was 11 and ended when she was 13 at which time she told her family. Hobbs was in his 40s. The family subsequently reported the abuse to Rye Police. During the police investigation, they found DNA evidence including semen in the child’s shorts which corroborated the charges. Rye Police arrested Hobbs at his White Plains residence July 7, 2017.
Victim’s Impact
Today in court, the victim’s mother reminded the court of her child’s Cerebral Palsy, seizures, pain, loss of sight, and daily struggles, and said: “For someone, Your Honor, to know this, to know all of this, and see firsthand the things she goes through and how she suffers everyday of her life to purposely hurt her…to use her for his own sexual pleasure over and over.” Her mother added, ”She’s in a new and different type of pain…and that is what this sick man did to my child. No amount of time can ever erase what was done to her. None.”
The victim asked Assistant District Attorney Karen Hebert to read lyrics from a pop song called “Prayin” by Kesha as her statement to the court.
In his sentencing statement, Assistant District Attorney Paul Stein said: “And still, even today, the defendant stands here remorseless, even in the face of her [the child’s] testimony, which was supported by all of the other evidence in the case, including the DNA evidence that showed his semen in her sleeping shorts.”
Judge Susan Cacace presided over the jury trial in Westchester County Court. The case was investigated by Rye Police, the Child Abuse Bureau of the Special Prosecutions Division of the DA’s Office, and the Westchester County Department of Public Safety. It was prosecuted by ADA Paul Stein, Chief of the Child Abuse Bureau, and ADA Karen Herbert of the Special Prosecutions Division.
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In compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 3.6, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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