Convicted Child Sex Abuser Sentenced, Other Victims Urged To Come Forward

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — A father has been sentenced for the sexual abuse of four young girls, including his own daughter, which happened decades ago.

Prosecutors said they're worried they could be other victims out there.

A Prince George’s County Circuit Court judge issued a 165-year prison sentence to 60-year-old Cleophus Canton who was convicted by a jury earlier this year of second-degree child abuse, rape and sex offenses linked to sexual abuse that happened from the late 1990s through 2008, prosecutors stated.

“He was held accountable,” Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Tara Jackson said. “Sexual assault is a deeply personal crime that profoundly impacts its victims, usually resulting in long-term emotional and physical impacts.”

In recent years, Canton's victims started coming forward. One woman, Brittany Simms, spoke out at a news conference about her decision.

“After 25 years, I decided to take my abuser to court because I was speaking up for the child in me, the child that wasn’t seen, the teenager that wasn’t heard,” Brittany Simms said. “It feels like I’m dreaming. I’m still shaking. It just feels like a dream that I’m living. It’s amazing, amazing. I feel so free.”

Prosecutors and the victims believe there are others out there who were targeted by Canton, and they are urging those people to come forward.

“...And I want whoever else is out there, whoever else is out there, please, please speak up," Simms said at the news conference.

Anyone wanting to discuss anything pertaining to this case can contact the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office at 301-952-3500 or Prince George’s County Police at 301-352-1200.