Graham Harding, convicted child molester.

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This was discussed in a thread some months ago as he was detained and placed in custody to await trial. He has had his trial and is now convicted. Some details that were omitted before will shock you.

For those who wondered if the children he molested were the children of skydivers: Indeed, they were. They were his own step-daughters; primarily the younger one. She was subjected to his molestation beginning about age 6 and continuing through about age 16.

For those who spouted the 'innocent until proved guilty' line: He admitted it to his then wife, Barbara; a detective; and a few skydiving friends. He then fled the country with the help of a few high profile South African skydivers. It sickens me that those who aided and abetted him are parents of young children, as well, and still chose to help him elude this heinous crime. Some example they are setting for their own children. One accomplice still maintains that this is "... only family, religious, and psychiatric matter, not a legal one." This person sat on my couch in my living room and said that to me. As of that very instant, he was no longer my friend. Disgusting.

Barbara Harding and her daughters have had a shitstorm of trauma, guilt, and fear to deal with the past year an a half in addition to the horror the youngest daughter has endured for the 10 years prior. The battle is not over... It's only begun with this slight victory of the first conviction. The following is from Barbara and posted with her permission. Names of the minor children have been omitted. If you know the family, you already know their names, anyway:

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Although Graham faced life without parole … mid-way through yesterday’s trial, we considered and accepted a plea bargain, because the defense attorney was battering (Victim) to a point she could bear no longer. Without going into too much detail, he has benefited from committing his crime in multiple states, and we were only able to charge him thus far, with the crimes committed in FL from March 2003 forward. And the defense attorney created false confusion around the dates during which (Victim) was under the age of 12. The way the law works is this … if you sexually assault a child under the age of 12, it is a life sentence … if over 12, something less, and within the discretion of the judge. So when we moved back to FL so he could join the US Skydiving team, (Victim) was 11, and just 6 months from her 12th birthday … which made specificity of her memories vital … and with all the emotion and badgering from the defense counsel – she could take no more … and as her mother, I could not allow further assault of her and the truth she fights to make known. Her earliest memories of him assaulting her date back to the age of 5, maybe 6. Graham met (Victim) when she was 4; (Victim's sister) 6.

Graham plead guilty to the two lesser counts of varied degrees of molestation – despite the fact it occurred weekly – not just twice. He did so in front of a filled courtroom of our circle of friends and supporters. The fact that he “penetrated” her is the legal term used … and while yesterdays’ trial did not prove this aspect … all in the courtroom knew it to be true – and witnessed the attorney’s assault on an emotional 17 yr old girl with a decade of truth to share, but only portions of which were legally relevant.

He will serve 12 years in the state prison … plus 18 years thereafter of sexual offender supervised probation and by FL law, he cannot get released early until he has served at least 85% of his sentence. The significance of the 30 yr aggregate (12+18) timeline relates to the 2 charges he plead guilt to – each of which could carry a max 15 yr sentence. They would consider early release after 85% assuming “good behavior”. He is also credited with “time served” for the 306 days he has sat in the county jail. Upon release, since he is not a U.S. citizen, he will be deported. I did my best to protect my children and other children … and I’m not done yet. He has still not been held accountable for his worst offenses, so hopefully within the next few years, we can successfully achieve a life sentence in Arizona … as (Victim) was 6,7 & 8 during those crimes, and the specificity of his actions during those years is worse than what he did to her in later years. So we will press on, because if he is ever released, we cannot bear the thought of him finding another victim.

I’m not sure if South Africa will pick up the registered sex offender status or not, if and when he returns to SA …

I’m tired. I’m exhausted. I feel defeated, but will try in time to look upon yesterday the way (Victim) does … “one day on the road to convicting him as he should be …” I wish during her testimony, I could have given my daughter some of experience of dealing with attorneys, while she battled the expertise of his defense attorney, but she did an amazing job for such a young woman, while enduring the awkwardness and insecurities of testifying about such dreadful memories. But I had to stop it. The plea was the right thing to do.

(Victim) wants to prosecute in AZ – she believes they cannot twist her testimony over the acts that occurred in that state. But for now, we rest and hug and remind ourselves what matters.

The detective involved also reminded me … that surviving 10 years in prison on a sexual assault charge isn’t an easy thing to do. But I can’t count circumstance, when other children will be at risk, at the hands of a man, we have the tools to contain. I will begin discussions with AZ authorities soon, to determine appropriateness of next steps – assuming (Victim) wants to continue her fight. This is about (Victim) – and what she wants – not what anyone else thinks, or believes should happen. So long as she wants to press on, I will fight along side her.

Yesterday was a painful and emotional day in court for those of us present to support Barbara and her daughter. I can't even begin to imagine what was coursing through their minds and bodies as they faced this beast in court. Although we didn't get the intended outcome when we walked into court that morning, it's still a great step toward healing. If you know Barb and the girls (or not) and want to send some words of support, drop her a note at bharding @ cfl.rr.com
She may not answer right away or at all, but would probably appreciate the outreach.

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