Written on July 28, 2026. Posted in Child Welfare News & Insights.

Maryland man sentenced to 165 years for child sex crimes as survivors urge others to come forward

A Prince George's County judge has sentenced 60-year-old Cleophus Canton to 165 years in prison after a jury convicted him in January on nine counts of second-degree child abuse, second-degree rape, and second-degree sex offense. Four women who survived his abuse — abuse that began when they were children and spanned more than a decade — stood side by side at a public press conference to urge others who may have been harmed to come forward and to send a message to every parent and caregiver: listen to your children.

What happened and what the court found

According to court records and reporting from 7News and WJLA, Cleophus Canton, 60, was convicted in January 2026 in Prince George's County Circuit Court on nine criminal counts stemming from the sexual abuse of four young girls over roughly a decade, from the late 1990s through approximately 2008. The abuse included second-degree rape, second-degree child abuse, and second-degree sex offense. At least one victim was abused from the age of 8 through age 16.

On May 7, 2026, a judge sentenced Canton to 165 years in prison — a sentence that, in practice, means he will spend the rest of his life in custody. All four victims testified during the trial, and all four were present at the sentencing. Prince George's County State's Attorney Aisha Jackson confirmed that Canton has a separate case still pending and that investigators believe there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward.

The survivors' voices

Three of the four survivors spoke at a press conference following sentencing, describing what it meant to reach this moment — and urging anyone else who may have been harmed to seek justice now.

Brittany Simms, who said the abuse began when she was a child, described how she had tried for years to understand the confusion and distress she carried into adulthood, not knowing it was rooted in what had been done to her. "It took me 33 years to actually fit the pieces in that were just missing," she said. "I didn't understand why. It was because of this trauma that happened to me." She added that she brought the case to court to speak for the child and teenager she had been — both of whom, she said, were not seen and not heard at the time.

Shawntia Simms described how she and her cousin Brittany had told their parents at age 13 that Canton was harming them, and that nothing changed. "Mr. Canton was still living in the home. When we would come to family events, holidays, he was still there. Everybody treated him like family," she said. One of the survivors identified herself as Canton's biological daughter. Another described him as her mother's boyfriend at the time and the father of her siblings.

Keisha Spencer, who is 39, said she wanted anyone following similar cases on social media to take one action: "Just please come forward, because you'll get justice just like we did." She and the other survivors named the detective on their case — Detective Starr of the Prince George's County Police — as a central reason they felt safe enough to keep going. "She's going to get the answers she needs," Shawntia Simms said. "She definitely helped you through everything."

What the state's attorney said

State's Attorney Aisha Jackson acknowledged that family-based abuse creates specific barriers to disclosure. "We understand that oftentimes there are different family dynamics that make reporting complicated," she said. "However, your child should be heard, and if they are being harmed or hurt, I urge you not to ignore it." Jackson also addressed the reality that some abusers have experienced harm themselves, stating clearly that while her office recognizes that history, it is not a justification. "It is not an excuse to hurt or harm others. Go get help," she said.

Jackson emphasized that Prince George's County prosecutors and law enforcement are committed to treating child sexual abuse cases with the highest seriousness, and that the office will continue to pursue accountability. Anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Canton — or by anyone else — can contact the Prince George's County Police Department's Child and Vulnerable Adult Abuse Unit at (301) 772-4930.

How abuse within families often stays hidden

The survivors in this case told reporters that they had disclosed the abuse when they were teenagers — to parents, to family members — and were not believed or protected. This pattern is not unusual. Research and survivor accounts consistently show that children who are abused by someone in their family or household often face compounded barriers to disclosure: the fear of breaking up the family, worry about not being believed, loyalty to the abuser who may also be a caretaker, and the absence of language or context to describe what is happening to them.

When children do disclose and adults minimize, dismiss, or fail to act, the silence often lasts for years or decades. In this case, it took more than 25 years for the legal system to hold Canton accountable. The survivors said publicly that watching Canton sentenced was, as one put it, like being set free — but they also made clear that getting to that moment required finding the right support and the right people who would listen.

Brittany Simms described the role of her therapist in finally understanding and naming what had happened: "She said, 'I don't care how long it's been, you're saying that happened when you was a child, I'm going to report it.' And I was like, I didn't know that was an option." Her words underscore how critical it is that therapists, counselors, school personnel, and others who work with adults carry an understanding that delayed disclosure is common and valid — and that they know how to respond when it happens.

What Maryland's legal landscape looks like for survivors

This case moves through a Maryland legal system that has recently expanded protections for adult survivors of childhood abuse. The Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023 removed the civil statute of limitations for many childhood sexual abuse claims, allowing survivors to pursue civil accountability even when the abuse occurred decades ago. Maryland's Court of Appeals upheld that law in 2025. Thousands of lawsuits have since been filed against institutions, religious organizations, and individuals across the state.

The criminal case against Canton proceeded through the standard criminal process and was not directly tied to the Child Victims Act, but the broader cultural and legal shift it represents — toward taking long-delayed disclosures seriously — created a context in which cases like this can receive the attention and resources they require. State's Attorney Jackson's public stance, the willingness of four survivors to testify, and the 165-year sentence together reflect that shift.

What caregivers and communities can do

Each of the survivors in this case ended her statement with a version of the same message: please listen to your kids. That guidance is worth taking seriously and practically.

Children who are being abused often cannot come to adults directly with clear words. They may hint, they may act out, they may withdraw, or they may tell one adult and fall silent when that adult does not respond. Caregivers who want to be the kind of adult a child can turn to can take specific steps:

Create regular, low-stakes moments for conversation — not just when something seems wrong, but routinely, so children know talking is safe.
Use clear, age-appropriate language about bodies, boundaries, and the difference between safe and unsafe touching, starting at a young age.
When a child says something concerning — even vaguely — respond with calm, open questions rather than alarm, dismissal, or demands for proof.
If a child tells you something happened, believe them first. Do not require them to prove it before you act.
Know that children often tell one trusted person before they tell anyone else. Being that person matters.
If a child discloses abuse, contact child protective services or law enforcement. You do not have to investigate on your own.

Professionals who work with children — teachers, coaches, counselors, pediatric providers — should be familiar with mandated reporting obligations in Maryland and know how to respond when a child discloses or shows signs of abuse. Adults who work with other adults should also know how to respond to delayed disclosures, which are common and no less credible than immediate ones.

If you are concerned about a child

If you are concerned that a child may be experiencing abuse or neglect, please do not wait. You do not need proof; you only need reasonable concern. Reports made in good faith are protected by law.

If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
Maryland Child Protective Services Hotline — To report suspected abuse within Maryland, contact the Department of Social Services statewide hotline at 1-800-91Prevent (1-800-917-7383), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Outside of Maryland — Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: Call or text 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-CHILD), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988 for mental health crisis support.

Reporting abuse can protect a child. Remember, you do not need to be certain that abuse is occurring — if you have concerns, reach out. Trained professionals will assess the situation and take appropriate steps.

If you are a survivor of childhood abuse and are struggling with its effects, support is available. Healing is possible, and you deserve to access it.