Married couple pleads guilty to sexually abusing 17-month-old girl entrusted to their care
A married couple from upstate New York pleaded guilty last week to the continued sexual abuse of a 17-month-old girl they were babysitting in the town of Sidney. Justin and Jessica Crandall both pleaded guilty to sexually abusing the toddler and making videos of the abuse, according to The New York Post. The abuse took place in the Crandall’s home from November 2016 through February 2017.
Prosecutors said that the 28-year-old husband recorded videos and took pictures of himself sexually abusing the child. The Press & Sun-Bulletin shared reports of court documents which stipulated 27-year-old Jessica Crandall admitting that she and her husband engaged in “repeated sexual activities” involving the child. According to The Press, the husband faces up to 30 years in prison for his plea to three felony counts of sexual exploitation of a child. Justin Crandall was also indicted on a felony count of distribution of child pornography. The wife pleaded guilty to felony counts of conspiracy to sexually exploit a child and sexual exploitation of a child.
Their guilty charges will carry a minimum sentence of 15 years behind bars. Final sentencing will take place on February 23 in a Binghamton federal courtroom.
News.com reported the police as saying the toddler’s mother “had noticed changes to her daughter’s behaviour, as well as ‘unexplained’ injuries.” Police were initially alerted to the abuse last February after a witness came forward to report “receiving an image depicting a female toddler engaged in a sex act, which Justin Crandall had allegedly sent via cellphone, according to court papers.” New York State Police and the FBI obtained search warrants to the Crandalls’ home where they discovered the recorded sexually explicit abuse of the toddler on a cellphone.
The Press & Sun-Bulletin also shared court documents which stated that “(Justin) Crandall admitted he touched the minor female child in a sexual manner while he was under the influence of methamphetamine.” Magistrate Judge David Peebles described the couple’s crimes as “barbaric acts.”
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Written by: Ace News Today Staff
