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Man gets 20 years for molesting 2 girls

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By TOM BRENNAN

tbrennan@tampatrib.com

Published: October 29, 2009

TAMPA - A Seminole man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Wednesday for molesting two girls he lured through MySpace.

Hillsborough Circuit Judge Wayne S. Timmerman also ordered Edward Oberwise, 40, to serve 10 years of sexual offender probation.

The judge was outraged at Oberwise's apparent lack of remorse - the defendant only mentioned he was sorry after repeated promptings.

Oberwise asked for leniency, saying he had a sick mother, a child and a job waiting.

"You might have thought about that before you tried to pull this off," the judge replied.

Timmerman found Oberwise guilty of five counts of lewd and lascivious battery in August.

The 20-year sentence was the maximum under an agreement prosecutors struck with Oberwise in exchange for him waiving his right to a jury trial. Without the cap, he faced up to 75 years.

The girls were 12 and 14 when the crime occurred.

The younger victim, along with the mothers of both girls, stood by prosecutor Anthony Duran during sentencing.

In a letter read by her mother, the older victim said she has nightmares and flashbacks.

The younger girl and her mother didn't speak. But at trial, the girl testified that she met Oberwise through MySpace and the two began to text and e-mail.

She agreed to meet him at a park near her FishHawk Ranch home and took her older friend along. The pair said they sneaked out of their homes and met Oberwise on Jan. 3, 2008. He drove them to a nearby grocery store parking lot.

Oberwise molested one girl in the back seat while the other stayed in front as a lookout. The girls then exchanged places.

Duran said the younger girl's mother discovered the relationship while checking her daughter's cell phone. Deputies set up a recorded conversation between the girl and Oberwise in which he admitted the sexual conduct.

During the call, the girl set up a second meeting and Oberwise was arrested when he arrived.

Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 259-7698.

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