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May 11, 2005
Marana Mom Pleads Guilty to Negligent Child Abuse of Daughter Molested by Dad
On Tuesday, Denise Sabin admitted her guilt in not reporting her husband Ricky Lee's sexual molestation of their 16 year-old daughter Katie, who committed suicide on April 30th of last year. Denise Sabin said that the suicide stemmed from years of abuse.
"In my opinion, my daughter committed suicide because of the trauma that she suffered, period,” Denise Sabin, 46, said in court.
That trauma came not only from the girl's father, Ricky Lee Sabin, 43, but from Denise Sabin's father also. Years earlier, Katie's grandfather went to prison for sexually abusing her, and died only months after his release, which prompted the girl to urge her mother to not report Ricky Lee to authorities.
"I'm sure that factored into my daughter's request that we just try to get through this as a family. She believed that he would never be able to do this again and that she wanted me to know the truth, but she wanted her family to stay together,” Denise Sabin explained in court.
That family is now torn apart by a secret and a suicide, as Denise Sabin provided evidence in the sentencing of her husband Ricky Lee, and read aloud letters that he sent her from jail.
"To be honest with you, when you asked for these letters, I started to read through them again, and I became so disturbed I just stopped,” Denise Sabin explained to Deputy Pima County Attorney Lewis Brandes.
But in court on Tuesday, nothing could go unsaid any longer, and words that were meant to be read in silence, were spoken aloud.
"My baby's gone and I'm the reason,” Denise Sabin read from a letter Ricky Lee Sabin mailed her from jail.
Ricky Lee Sabin is guilty of sexual contact with a minor and continuous sexual abuse of a child. His sentencing is Friday, and he faces a minimum of 19 years and a maximum of almost 40 years in prison. Tuesday’s evidence will factor into the sentencing. Denise Sabin's sentencing is June 21st, and could be probation, or a year or two in prison.
Posted by Nealus at May 11, 2005 02:57 PM
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