State v. Mr. A (DMC No. 18303) – Felony Child Molestation (Dangerous Crimes Against Children), 40-year-old Adult/8-year-old Minor, and (2 Counts) Felony Sexual Abuse (DCAC) – Reduced to Attempt and Probation (with 8.5 Years Actual DOC) – Maricopa County Superior Court (Case No. CR2022-115486)
Mr. A was a chef who worked at various restaurants around town, when he befriended the owner of where he was currently working. She was friends of a woman who was taking care of a couple kids who had a traumatic upbringing, and whose parents were no longer in their lives. All three people became friends, and Mr. A and his wife began watching the alleged Victim when she was very young. At some point, Mr. A’s wife developed a rare form of cancer, and he began drinking heavily to cope with his depression and anxiety. His wife ultimately passed away, and this combined with his extreme alcohol abuse led to him being accused of Molestation and Sexual Abuse of a then 8-year-old minor.
When the minor turned 12 years old, she alleged that Mr. A tried to commit various sex acts on her while she was 8 and 9 years old. Ultimately, the Police were contacted and the alleged Victim was interviewed. In a very unusual situation, her older sister had her own Attorney, and another Attorney was secured to be present during the interviews. After all of the information was received, Mr. A was questioned by Police, made admissions, and he was Arrested and Charged with Molestation of a Child (Dangerous Crimes Against Children), 2 Counts of Sex Abuse, and 1 Count of Attempted Molestation of a Child. He then secured the services of DM Cantor.
We became involved, and began to put together an extensive Mitigation Package. We hired a Mitigation Specialist who interviewed all of Mr. A’s extended family and found out about his traumatic upbringing. We also had a Psychosexual Risk Evaluation conducted, which indicated that Mr. A was a “low risk to reoffend.” We then packaged all of these materials together, conducted a Settlement Conference with the Prosecutor and the Judge, and received an Offer that would entail pleading to Attempt with 8.5 Years of Actual Prison Time.
Included in our Mitigation materials, was the fact that Mr. A was raised as a child in the Church of Scientology. He was actually featured in some of the books relating to the psychological and physical torture that would go on at the notorious “Ranch” of the Scientologist complex. He tried to commit suicide several times before he was 18, and ultimately ran away. He then joined the Navy, and after serving for 3 years, he had another suicide attempt and was discharged. These were all factors that went into securing this Mitigated Plea Offer. Had Mr. A gone to Trial and had been Convicted of all 4 Charges, he could have potentially spent more than 30 Years in Prison.
