John Charles Villers-Farrow, 67, of Edgewater was sentenced to serve 25 years in prison with all but 10 years suspended for sexually abusing two neighborhood boys over an eight-year period, ending in 2008. Villers-Farrow is the brother of actress Mia Farrow and the son of director John Farrow and actress Maureen O’Sullivan.
The sentence was handed down this morning by Judge Laura S. Kiessling in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court in Annapolis.
Villers-Farrow began sexually abusing one of the victims when the boy was 9 years old. The abuse continued until the victim was 16. Villers-Farrow sexually abused another neighborhood boy around the same time. That victim reported being sexually abused by Villers-Farrow numerous times over five years, ending when he was 13 years old.
The abuse was reported in August 2012 after a family member questioned the victims about it.
Villers-Farrow halted his trial on July 26, 2013 and entered an Alford plea to two counts of sexual abuse of a minor.
He will be on supervised probation for five years upon release. He also was ordered to register as a Tier 3 sex offender, a lifetime registration, and must not have any contact with the victims or any children under 18 years old.
State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess urges parents and caregivers to keep an open line of communication with their children.
“This case highlights the importance for parents to speak openly with their children to arm them for the dangers of sexual predators, who more often than not are people they know and trust,” Leitess said.
Eye On Annapolis broke this story on November 15, 2012.
