55-year-old Winston Dennison was convicted on three counts of carnal knowledge on Monday, December 17th. Dennison is a parolee, who had been convicted of manslaughter in 2000 and served 10 years of his 25-year prison sentence. A mitigation plea was heard for him before Justice Troadio Gonzalez on Friday, December 21st.
In mitigation, Dennison maintained his innocence. He asked only about the process of appeal. Justice Gonzalez explained to him that it is his right to appeal and that he has 21 days to do so. Dennison was unrepresented throughout the entire trial. He has the right to appeal the conviction and the right to appeal the sentence handed down by Gonzalez. The 14-year-old, in an in camera testimony, said she had sex with Dennison on August 20th, 22nd and 24th of 2010. Justice Gonzalez sentenced Dennison to 5 years for the first count, 6 years on the second count and 7 years for the third count against the 14-year-old. The sentences are to run consecutively; therefore, Dennison will serve a total of 18 years for his first sex offense. His parole was also revoked; meaning, that the 15 years remaining from the manslaughter conviction will be added back on. Dennison’s last words to the court were, “I am not guilty of this crime.”
