header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
May 4
1903 - President Teddy Roosevelt visits Gov. Henry Gage at Acton Hotel [story]
Acton Hotel


johnwhitsell[District Attorney] A 72-year-old convicted rapist was sentenced Wednesday to 520 years to life in state prison for sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl under his care in Canyon Country.

Deputy District Attorney Ani Bailey said John Adam Whitsell was found guilty on Oct. 12 of four counts each of lewd act upon a child and oral copulation or sexual penetration with child 10 years old or younger and one count of forcible oral copulation, victim under 14 years old.

In 1971, Whitsell was convicted in Louisiana of two counts of aggravated rape in two separate cases and served seven years in prison for those convictions.

The defendant was babysitting the young family member when he abused her at her Canyon Country home between Jan. 1, 2015 and June 30, 2015, according to evidence presented at the six-day-long trial.

Case PA084603 was investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Santa Clarita Station.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

53 Comments

  1. 520 years to life? That just sounds stupid. Hang his ass and be done with him.

  2. Randy Rodi says:

    I think if you go over 200 years you should just get the death penalty

  3. Charles Kase says:

    So sorry for the girl. Hope this guy rots in jail

  4. Gee Miguel says:

    Jail justice will be served.

  5. Why in that hell would you leave your kid with him,knowing his past..SMFH

  6. Isabel Y Saul Garcia maldito mejor. Lo uvieran matado

  7. I posted this a while ago! I rather see my tax dollars go towards the build, rope and hangmen !

  8. Bob Dixon says:

    Just give me a hammer ! And he will be fine for life in jail !!

  9. Hope he gets hit soon

  10. Vicky says:

    Who needs him to rot in jail he needs to be handled by a firing squad!!

  11. Why does the system wait till the second time to give these people life? Smh

    • Laura Hughes says:

      The crappy part is this guy was already given a life sentence for hard labor in 1972 in Louisiana for child rape and he got out on parole. Shouldn’t a life sentence be just that? Your in until you die and they take you out in a box.

  12. Mike Duryea says:

    Thanks to the idiots who voted for Prop 57, this is considered a “non-violent offense”, you can expect this a-hole to get released soon.

  13. Angie Riley says:

    I hope he hang him self sometime soon!!!

  14. Dan Aird says:

    Do the respectable thing Dick???⚰️

  15. Alex Flores says:

    Shirley Espinoza check this out

  16. I wish they gave every rapist that sentence(+)

  17. Say goodnight Mr. sicko!!! Enjoy getting what you deserve!!!

  18. he should be used as an example and than followed thru

  19. Aimey Beer says:

    He got this sentence because he wasn’t a strapping young college swimmer with his whole life ahead of him…

  20. This is just unacceptable but I’m glad he got that sentence. All child abusers should get the same number of years.

  21. Tess Knoles says:

    No.one googled his ass before they left there CHILD with some.old guy. Fuhhh

  22. Rocio Garcia says:

    Viejos desgrasiados cochinos esos se meresen la silla de muerte ..

  23. 520 years isn’t long enough. Sick CREEP

  24. Debra says:

    Taxpayers Wasted Money!!! Then They Get Special Housing And Treatment!!!Wrong Put Them In Solitary Confinement Where’s Lorena Bobbitt When You Need Her!!!

  25. My guess is if he ends up being a model inmate they will let him out early because of prop 57.. since that is now considered a non violent crime

  26. Fred Salinas says:

    Stop wasting taxpayer money, throw him in the volcano!

  27. Linda Harbeson says:

    Waste of taxpayers money to house him. Death penalty now. Prayers for the little girl and her family. They have to deal with this horrible memory the rest of their lives.

  28. No mercy!!! Ever!!!!!! Someone will shank him in prison hopefully! Disgusting pervert!

  29. Donna Boyer says:

    People like this disgust me!

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Friday, May 3, 2024
May 4: LACoFD Hosts Countywide Open House at All Fire Stations
Fire Service Day Open House will be held at all County of Los Angeles Fire Department fire stations on Saturday, May 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday, May 3, 2024
May 18: Support Young Creatives at NextGen MediaMakers Festival
The Santa Clarita Valley Media Collaborative invites the public as well as local creatives, media industry professionals, students, parents, teachers and others to celebrate the next generation of media makers participating in the inaugural NextGen MediaMakers Festival on Saturday, May 18 from 2-5 p.m. at the Canyon Country Community Center.
Friday, May 3, 2024
Vasquez Rocks Full Moon Twilight Hikes
Explore Vasquez Rocks during the magical twilight and early evening full moon hours. These fun, collaborative, interpretive hikes are led by trained staff and volunteers and will highlight the park's natural and human history.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1903 - President Teddy Roosevelt visits Gov. Henry Gage at Acton Hotel [story]
Acton Hotel
The regular meeting of the Saugus Union School District Governing Board will take place Tuesday, May 7, with closed session beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed immediately by public session at 6:30 p.m.
May 7: Regular Meeting of the Saugus School Board
The city of Santa Clarita Arts Commission is holding its regular meeting in City Hall's Council Chambers Thursday, May 9 at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held at Santa Clarita City Hall, 23920 Valencia Blvd., Valencia, CA 91355.
May 9: Arts Commission to Hear Updates on Civic Art Projects
Experience the Butterfly Encounter at Gilchrist Farm open now on weekends thorugh Sunday, June 18. Walk through a tent of beautiful flowers hosting live butterflies that fly freely throughout the tent.
Experience the Butterfly Encounter at Gilchrist Farm
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a business meeting Wednesday, May 8, beginning at 5 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 4:15 p.m.
May 8: COC Board Business Meeting Considers Contracts
The Castaic Union School District Governing Board will hold its regular meeting Thursday, May 8, at 6 p.m. A closed session will be held at 5:30 p.m.
May 8: Castaic Union School Board Regular Meeting
Fire Service Day Open House will be held at all County of Los Angeles Fire Department fire stations on Saturday, May 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
May 4: LACoFD Hosts Countywide Open House at All Fire Stations
The Santa Clarita Valley Media Collaborative invites the public as well as local creatives, media industry professionals, students, parents, teachers and others to celebrate the next generation of media makers participating in the inaugural NextGen MediaMakers Festival on Saturday, May 18 from 2-5 p.m. at the Canyon Country Community Center.
May 18: Support Young Creatives at NextGen MediaMakers Festival
Explore Vasquez Rocks during the magical twilight and early evening full moon hours. These fun, collaborative, interpretive hikes are led by trained staff and volunteers and will highlight the park's natural and human history.
Vasquez Rocks Full Moon Twilight Hikes
Astrotourism is top of mind for travelers making special trips for experiences in the sky, and with the recent “take-your-breath-away” total solar eclipse, thousands of cruisers onboard Emerald Princess and Discovery Princess off the coast of Mexico caught a glimpse of the total darkness event.
Princess Cruises Sails to Prime Viewing Spot for 2026 Total Solar Eclipse in Europe
The Santa Clarita City Council will hold a study session on Tuesday, May 7 at 5 p.m. The council will meet at City Hall, Carl Boyer Room, 23920 Valencia Blvd., First Floor, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
May 7: City Council Conducts Budget Study Session
Garbage inspectors will soon be paying a visit to neighborshoods throughout the Santa Clarita Valley to inspect recycling bins to insure residents are following the recycling rules in the SCV.
Garbage Inspectors to Look for Improper Recycling
College of the Canyons competed at the 3C2A State Singles & Doubles Championships for a second straight year, with the doubles duo of Sydney Tamondong and Estrella Segura establishing program history by advancing to the round of 16 at the Ojai Athletic Club.
Canyons Advances to Day 3 of 3C2A State Championships
College of the Canyons men's basketball head coach Howard Fisher's Cougar Basketball Camp returns in 2024 with three sessions open to boys and girls ages 8 to 14.
Registration Open for 2024 Howard Fisher Cougar Basketball Camp
The Friends of Santa Clarita Public Library is hosting a “Spring Bag Sale” event at the Valencia, Canyon Country and Newhall branches of the Santa Clarita Public Library, during normal operating hours from Saturday, May 4 to Sunday, May 12.
May 4-12: Spring Bag Sale at Santa Clarita Public Library
A former public school teacher who launched a racist and anti-immigrant tirade against a Santa Clarita street vendor is being sued by a Latino civil rights group for civil assault and violating California civil rights laws.
MALDEF Sues Man After Rant at Fruit Vendor in SCV
The Village of Pine Mountain Club has hosted wine festivals since 2003. You can taste exciting wines from the world’s top wine-growing regions, with dozens of premier wineries to choose from on Saturday, July 6, 1-4 p.m. at Wine in the Pines.
July 6: Wine in the Pines, Pine Mountain Club
1842 - California's first mining district established in SCV; Ygnacio del Valle, chairman [story]
Ygnacio del Valle
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Santa Clarita Valley will be held Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. at Central Park, with the theme “May The Cure Be With You,” a Disney/Star Wars celebration.
May 4: SCV Relay for Life ‘May the Cure Be With You’
Ten risk-taking, mid-career artists were announced Thursday as the recipients of the 2024 Herb Alpert Award in the Arts (HAAIA).
CalArts Announces 2024 Herb Alpert Award Winners
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The Master's University men's volleyball team won their opening match of the 2024 NAIA National Championship with a 3-set win over the No. 9-seed Mount Mercy (IA) Mustangs.
Mustangs Post-Season Play Continues After First Round Win
Andrew Skerratt did not anticipate graduating with an electrical engineering degree from The Master’s University.
TMU Student Set to be School’s First Electrical Engineering Graduate
Nichole Muro was brilliant in the circle through seven shutout innings and Gigi Garcia broke the game open with a two-run double in the sixth inning as No. 15 College of the Canyons got past No. 18 Cuesta College 4-0 in its 3C2A Southern California Regional Playoffs play-in game at Whitten Field on Tuesday.
Lady Cougs Advance to Next Round in Regional Playoffs
As we kick off the new month, I am proud to reflect on the incredible growth and achievements we've witnessed over the past four months.
Message from Carlos Orozco JCI President
SCVNews.com