'Monster' gets 33 years for child porn

WILMINGTON – A Newark man was sentenced to 33 years in prison Friday for taking some 95 lewd photos of children in his care, improperly touching one of those children and for having a collection of over one million child porn images.

John M. Figura, 44, had admitted to one count of sexual exploitation of a child, one count of second-degree unlawful sexual contact and eight counts of dealing in child pornography in May.

"The defendant in this case is a monster," said Deputy Attorney General Abigail Layton on Friday, adding he was exactly the type of person that the state's Child Predator Unit was created for.

Layton said at least five different victims, between the ages of 6 and 8, were identified in Figura's images and over the years, dating as far back as 1996, some had accused Figura of sexual abuse but until the images were discovered, none of the allegations could be substantiated.

Figura told investigators that none of the images he created involving children and pantyhose were ever shared online, but Layton said that Figura's credibility is questionable. "The defendant is a predator of the worst kind," Layton said, because he not only collected images, he created them and he also physically touched a child. She said the only way to keep other children safe is to lock him up for life.

Defense attorney Tom Foley disagreed, saying this was Figura's first offense, he is responding to treatment and said that beyond the single incident he admitted to, Figura was never charged with, nor admitted to, improperly touching any other child.

Figura told Superior Court Judge Calvin Scott, "I don't think I'm a monster."

"I've done wrong. I've hated myself for a long time. Sorry doesn't help but I'm sorry. I'm sorry I violated their trust. I wasn't raised that way. I'm not that person … I can't explain it," he said.

Scott then sentenced Figura to 33 years in prison without comment.

Outside court, Layton said prosecutors were satisfied with the result and hope it will bring Figura's victims some peace. She also credited the hard work of the Attorney General's Child Predator Unit that put in over 1,500 hours examining storage devices from Figura and working to try and identify the children in the images taken by Figura.

"It is satisfying to bring this case to a resolution and get justice for the child victims," said Chief Special Investigator Dennis Campbell.

Figura's victims, some of whom are now adults, some of whom are now teens, were not in court.

Contact Sean O'Sullivan at (302) 324-2777 or sosullivan@delawareonline.com or on Twitter @SeanGOSullivan