« Justice Served in Boot Camp Case | Main | Repeat Sex Offender Sentenced To Life In Prison »
October 17, 2007
Sitter Gets 20-Year Term
Topics: NewsTAMPA - A babysitter who had an 11-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl pleasure her with a sex toy was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison and 10 years of sex offender probation.
Last month, Charity Sato, 23, pleaded guilty to four felonies: two charges of lewd and lascivious conduct, one charge of lewd and lascivious molestation and one charge of lewd and lascivious battery.
A letter from the mother of the female victim was read aloud in court Tuesday. The mother wrote that since the incident, the teenage victim has the 'insecurity of not knowing who she is and who to trust.'
The letter also says the mother is optimistic that the teen will grow to be a successful woman.
It appears the mother has contradictory feelings about Sato. 'I truly want to throw insults at you and demean you as you did my children,' she wrote.
The letter goes on to say that she has worked to put her ill feelings behind her and she hopes Sato has learned from her misdeeds.
'There is forgiveness at the door,' she wrote. 'I'm hoping for a change that is productive.'
In May 2005, Sato had agreed to babysit overnight for the 11-year-old boy while his parents worked, Assistant State Attorney Kimberly Hindman said. The 13-year-old girl's mother asked whether Sato would babysit for her as well.
Sato found a sex toy in the house and asked the boy and girl to help her use it, Hindman said.
When a family friend confronted the 13-year-old girl about smoking cigarettes, she told him Sato had been having sex with her and the 11-year-old boy.
Sato also faced misdemeanor charges of providing alcohol and cigarettes to the children. Those charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement.
Had Sato received the maximum sentence, she could have served up to 60 years in prison.
Reporter Thomas W. Krause can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tkrause@tampatrib.com.
Posted by admin at October 17, 2007 6:21 PM
