As a result, many of these victims need long-term counseling, have difficulty managing school, jobs, and relationships, and often battle chemical dependencies as a form of escapism.
These types of crimes are some of the most selfish. Defendants satisfying their immediate sexual desires result in lifelong effects to the victims lives.
These crimes robbed these children of their innocence and normal rites of passage into adulthood.
In the last 10 years, my office has filed:
— 1,080 sex cases against defendants between 50 and 59 years old at the time of the crime;
— 443 sex cases against defendants 60 to 69 years old;
— 120 sex cases against defendants 70 to 79;
— and 12 sex cases against defendants 80 to 89;.
For example, Tanilong was 71 years old at the time of his crime.
During the same span of time, we filed charges against one defendant who was 91 years old at the time of his crime and another who was 96 years old at the time of his crime.
We have found that there is no age limit for people who perpetrate sex crimes against children.
Recidivism is high among child molesters, and there are no known cures to ensure a child molester will not repeat his crime and victimize more innocent children.
For the past few years, Denis Lyons has lived in Leisure World, where many grandchildren of residents visit.
I urge anyone who has been a victim of Denis Lyons to contact the district attorney’s office or Costa Mesa police.
They can count on us to treat them with respect and compassion and the community has our pledge to make sure justice is served in this case.
