“This man is a systematic sexual predator,” the lead detective told Ethan. “Lily is probably not his first victim.”
Further checks revealed Justin had been fired from a previous job at a daycare after unproven allegations of inappropriate behavior with children.
“How did Lauren not look into his background?” Ethan asked in disbelief.
“Apparently she didn’t. Or she did and ignored the red flags.”
Lauren was charged with felony child endangerment and aiding & abetting child sexual abuse for failing to protect Lily after the child disclosed the abuse.
“But she says she didn’t believe Lily,” Ethan argued.
“Mr. Carter, a mother has a legal duty to investigate and protect when her child makes such accusations. Lauren chose to believe her boyfriend and silence her daughter. That’s criminal negligence.”
The trial took place six months later. Lily testified via closed-circuit video in a special room with Maria Torres by her side.
“Lily,” the prosecutor asked very gently, “can you tell us about the game Justin played with you?”
In a tiny but clear voice, Lily described the abuse—how Justin touched her, where, how often, how it hurt, but he told her it was normal. How he said it was their special secret and bad things would happen if she told. There wasn’t a dry eye in the courtroom.
The most devastating moment came when Lily described the day she told her mother.
“We were eating and I forgot it was a secret. I told Mommy about Justin’s game. Mommy got really serious. She asked what game. I told her and she got very mad at me. She said I was a bad girl for telling lies about Justin, that Justin was good and I was being naughty.”
“And what did you do?”
“I cried. I told her it was true, but she said to be quiet and never say those lies again.”
The jury looked at Lauren with absolute revulsion. The photographs found on Justin’s phone were described (not shown publicly). The jury heard about the disturbing content on his computer. Justin’s defense was pathetic—his attorney tried to argue the photos were innocent and the touching was “misinterpreted affection,” but the medical forensic evidence was irrefutable. Dr. Ramirez testified in detail about the physical trauma.
Justin was convicted on multiple counts of aggravated child sexual abuse, possession of child sexual abuse material, and corruption of a minor. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.