THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 21, 1995 TAG: 9506210523
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOE JACKSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
A woman charged with sexually abusing her daughter in what has been called one of the worst cases of parental sexual abuse that court officials can recall was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison.
``This is one of the most distressing cases I've seen in my 13 years on the bench,'' Circuit Judge John E. Clarkson told the defendant, whose name is not being published to protect her daughter's identity. ``Quite frankly, I would put you in the penitentiary forever if I had the power.''
On May 11, the woman and her husband, both 34, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of felony child abuse. Those charges carry a maximum punishment of up to 70 years. But under terms of a plea agreement, the state asked only that the couple serve up to 10 years behind bars.
On Tuesday, Clarkson adhered to the agreement. He sentenced the woman to 70 years, then suspended all but 10. The woman's husband will be sentenced Thursday under the same terms.
The agreement was reached largely to spare the girl from having to testify against her parents at trial, Clarkson said. Police originally charged the parents with sexual abuse of the girl, now 9, and her younger brother, now 7.
Charges surrounding the boy's alleged abuse were dropped after he was unable to testify during a probable-cause hearing conducted by closed-circuit television, court officials said.
The girl was one of six siblings. The other children also were allegedly abused, but charges were not filed. The mother has lost custody of all six and cannot have contact with them again, court officials said. The children are with foster parents or will be adopted, officials added.
The crimes, which occurred in the family's home from November 1989 to November 1992, were some of the worst that local prosecutors and attorneys have seen. They involved multiple forced sex acts with the parents, siblings and the family dog. As punishment, the parents forced the girl to put her head in an unflushed toilet.
On Tuesday, the girl sat in the small courtroom, nestled between her foster parents, as her mother was sentenced.
``This was a heart-breaking case to me,'' said Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Lauri Hogge, her voice breaking, as she turned toward the girl. ``The children were so strong.''
During the hearing, the mother's problems were listed. Trained as a nurse's aide, she had a history of psychiatric problems and was diagnosed as having multiple personalities. She also was sexually abused by family members as a child.
Yet Clarkson, usually a mild-mannered judge, remained stern. ``But for the plea agreement,'' he said, ``you would never see the light of day. You would stay in prison until you died.''
The girl watched stoically as the deputies led her mother off to jail. Then, as the girl left the courtroom, she quietly cried.
KEYWORDS: SEX CRIMES CHILD MOLESTER CHILD ABUSE
TRIAL SENTENCING by CNB