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December 25
1852 - Acton gold mine owner & California Gov. Henry Tifft Gage born in New York [story]
Henry Gage


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.

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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!

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SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Thursday, Dec 25, 2025
SCV Sheriff’s Station Issues Traffic Alert on Soledad Canyon Road
The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station has issued the following traffic alerts: Due to heavy rains, the westbound right lane is closed on Soledad Canyon Road between Camp Plenty Road and Langside Avenue.
Thursday, Dec 25, 2025
Fostering Youth Independence Hosts Holiday PJ Party
Fostering Youth Independence’s recent Charlie Brown Holiday party was attended by dozens of local foster youth and their volunteer Allies.
Thursday, Dec 25, 2025
NWS Issues Flood Watch for SCV Through Friday
The National Weather Service as issued the following alerts for the Santa Clarita Valley. Flood Watch until Dec. 26, 4 p.m. PST, High Wind Warning until Dec. 25, 3 p.m. PST.
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Fostering Youth Independence’s recent Charlie Brown Holiday party was attended by dozens of local foster youth and their volunteer Allies.
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1852 - Acton gold mine owner & California Gov. Henry Tifft Gage born in New York [story]
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