A 66-year-old Mississippi pensioner has been handed two consecutive life sentences plus 15 years after grooming a 13-year-old boy online, only to be confronted and detained by the child's grandmother.
David Patrick Burkart, from Gulfport, Mississippi, USA, was convicted of multiple counts of sexual battery and gratification of lust involving a minor, after a jury trial in the Harrison County Circuit Court. Investigators said Burkart met the boy online and groomed him before the abuse escalated into physical attacks.
Grandmother's intervention
Prosecutors said the grandmother discovered the illegal communications, worked out where the meeting was taking place and intervened to protect the child. She subsequently held Burkart at the scene until officers could make the formal arrest.
Assistant District Attorney Matthew D. Burrell said the grandmother challenged Burkart, who tried to claim he believed the victim was older, WSFA12 reported. “The grandmother confronted Burkart, who said he thought the victim was 19 or 20,” Burrell said.
Evidence and sentencing
Burrell reportedly said the grandmother also gathered evidence which was later shown to jurors. He said she took photos of Burkart that were presented in court, “including one where his pants were unzipped”.
Police were called and an investigation began, with forensic evidence later playing a key role. “Samples collected from the backseat of the car were sent to the Mississippi Forensic Laboratory, which found the victim’s seminal fluid on a sample taken from the backseat,” Burrell said.
Judge's ruling and warning
Circuit Court Judge Christopher Schmidt handed down the maximum possible statutory penalty, sentencing Burkart to two consecutive life sentences, plus an additional 15 years to be served in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Under Mississippi law, the consecutive nature of the life terms means Burkart is ineligible for parole or early conditional release - ensuring he will remain behind bars for the rest of his natural life.
District Attorney Parker said the case was a stark warning about online predators and the ease with which they can reach children. “What is most disturbing about this case is that this defendant preyed on a child,” Parker said. “That alone is reprehensible, and the consecutive life sentences ensure that he will never have the opportunity to prey on another child. But this case is also a reminder of how easily predators can use social media and the internet to reach our children.”
