Pregnant 10-Year-Old Blames 'Godfather', 75
By Daniel Tepfer
Originally published in the Connecticut Post, April 18, 2002
BRIDGEPORT — A 75-year-old city man was arrested Wednesday on charges of impregnating a 10-year-old girl he met at his senior center.
Jimmy Kave, of Harborview Towers, admitted having sex on several occasions with the girl, but claimed she had enticed him, police said. He surrendered to police after being told there was a warrant for his arrest.
The girl, now 11, is six months pregnant. The state Department of Children and Families has taken custody of the girl from her mother. The pre-teen reportedly intends to have the baby.
Kave is charged with six counts of first-degree sexual assault, eight counts of risk of injury to a minor and two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault. He met the girl, her mother claims, through an "Adopt-a-Godfather" program at the housing complex.
Another bizarre aspect of the case is that neither her doctor nor the Summit Women's Medical Center allegedly reported the assault to police. Kave's arrest came after the mother complained directly to police.
Wednesday afternoon, Kave, wearing an emergency alert device around his neck, was led into Superior Court on Golden Hill Street in handcuffs and leg shackles.
He mumbled something incoherent as he stood before Judge Thomas Upson.
Assistant State's Attorney Nicholas Bove, describing the horrendous nature of the allegations, urged Upson to order Kave held on $1 million bond. He said Kave has an extensive prior criminal record, including a 1984 conviction for sexual assault in New Haven.
But Kave's lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Linda Denholtz, said Kave has children and grandchildren living in the area and is not a risk for flight.
Bove set Kave's bond at $500,000 and continued the case for arraignment April 30 in the Main Street courthouse. Kave was sent to the North Avenue state jail, unable to make bond.
If convicted on all charges, Kave could be sentenced to more than 100 years in prison.
Kave is accused of sexually assaulting the girl numerous times beginning in January 2001.
According to police Detective Benedetto Cortina Jr., the girl's mother complained on March 22 to police that her daughter was pregnant and Kave is the father.
The mother told police her daughter met Kave through an "Adopt-a-Godfather" program at Harborview Towers, a Bridgeport Housing Authority complex for senior citizens at 376 East Washington Ave. She said her daughter would visit Kave at his apartment, and they would play games and go places together.
Millie Morales, Harborview's assistant manager, said she was aware of the circumstances of the crime, but couldn't comment. She said she knew nothing about any program there matching seniors with children.
On March 14, the girl's mother took her to Dr. Mukesh Shah's office on Main Street, Cortina said. An examination determined the girl was pregnant, he said, and the doctor advised the girl to go to the Summit Women's Medical Center.
The girl was examined at the abortion clinic, but she decided to go forward with the pregnancy. Neither Shah nor Summit officials reported the girl's assault to police, according to police records.
Cortina said the girl later told him that Kave at first had touched her body under her clothing. Later, when she fell asleep in his apartment, she awakened to find Kave on top of her, having sexual intercourse with her. She said he told her not to tell anyone or she wouldn't be allowed to visit him anymore.
Cortina said Kave came to police headquarters on April 9 and gave a statement. He said he never forced the girl to have sex with him. Instead, he said he bought her clothes and gifts, and she repaid him with sex.
Last Christmas Eve, Kave told police, they returned to his apartment after buying about $100 worth of clothing for the girl. He said once they got home the girl approached him and began touching him in a sexual manner. This led to intercourse, according to his statement.
Cortina said Kave told him that, if he were allowed, he would support the girl and their child. "He said his door is always open for the victim," the prosecutor said.
