A man convicted of sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy under false pretenses has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. Ryan James Knight admitted to committing sexual offenses and creating child sexual exploitation material over a period from August 2024 to March 2025.
The court learned that Knight, in his early 40s at the time, was hired by the boy’s family to work on their basement. Subsequently, Knight hired the boy to assist with tasks at his residence nearby, where the abuse occurred. Despite changing his name from Gabourie years earlier, Knight’s criminal history was not discovered by the boy’s family, as he had been convicted of similar crimes in the past.
The abuse was uncovered when Knight was stopped by the police while driving with the boy in the middle of the night. Investigations revealed that Knight had been sexually assaulting the child. The victim mentioned that Knight would take him to movies, allow him to stay over at his house, lend him a cellphone, and allow him to use his computer.
Electronics seized from Knight contained incriminating evidence of child sexual abuse images, leading to the parents being informed and an investigation being initiated. The boy, under a publication ban, initially hesitated to disclose the abuse due to lack of trust in Child and Family Services.
The impact of the abuse was evident in the victim’s family statements, detailing the emotional toll on the boy. The boy’s father expressed regret at not uncovering Knight’s true history due to his name change. The grandmother observed a drastic change in the boy’s behavior and emotional state following the abuse.
Prosecutors highlighted the challenges faced by male victims of sexual abuse due to societal expectations, emphasizing the stigma associated with such incidents. Knight’s lawyer mentioned his client’s troubled upbringing, and Knight himself apologized for the harm caused and concealing his past.
Knight was sentenced to over 13 years in prison with specific conditions, including no contact with the victims mentioned in the case. The court proceedings shed light on the lasting impact of sexual abuse and the importance of safeguarding against such atrocities.
