A verdict of guilty of first degree assault of a child with aggravated circumstances, and a first degree rape with aggravated circumstance and a special allegation, was returned by Island County Superior Court jurors after a fifteen minute deliberation. The trial of Ryan Stephenson lasted four days and it has been reported that the testimony and evidence presented was so horrifying that the judge offered counseling to the jurors. Stephenson, 27, was accused of beating, raping, and forcing his girlfriend’s 21-month-old daughter into a book bag and kicking her “soccer style.”
According to expert witnesses, the child's injuries were so severe, physicians considered them to be life threatening. Reconstructive surgery was necessary to repair a “fourth degree perineum laceration.” Detective Tony Slowik testified that on May 27, 2011, his team began their investigation into the alleged abuse. Slowik described how Stephenson’s story changed about how the injuries could have occurred, before he admitted to the officers that they had “probably” been caused by him. Sentencing will reportedly take place in June and Stephenson faces up to a minimum 35 years in prison before a parole review board will be considered.
Family Law News Brought To You By http://SpokaneFamilyLawyers.com
↧