She had waited greater than 5 years for this.
The person who had abused her and one other individual once they have been minors — she a teen, the opposite individual simply 5 years outdated — was lastly being sentenced.
And whereas Christopher Negrete was given a lesser sentence underneath a plea deal, the girl nonetheless spoke of hope in her assertion to the choose.
Addressing “those that have by no means been heard or believed,” she assured them that “above all else, there may be such magnificence on the opposite aspect of all of the grief and distress that has been positioned at our toes by the individuals who solely want to harm us.”
The lady – who requested solely to be referred to by her first title, Bee – stated her journey these previous few years has been one in all “radical acceptance.”
It was in spring 2019 that Negrete, now 48, was charged with a number of counts of prison sexual assault and possession of kid pornography.
He might have been sentenced to over 4 a long time in jail. As a substitute, Negrete accepted a plea deal this fall and was sentenced to twenty-eight years.
Whereas it was not the sentence she anticipated, Bee stated she has discovered solace in the truth that Negrete won’t be able to hurt anybody else.
“None of that is nice, and nothing’s gonna make anybody really feel any higher,” Bee instructed the Solar-Instances. “It’s not gonna take away any of the hurt that’s been induced.”
In March 2019, Negrete’s girlfriend discovered at least five images of child porn on his phone — together with some depicting youngsters youthful than 5. She turned Negrete in to police, and he was charged with possession of kid pornography of an individual underneath the age of 13.
Bee read the coverage of the charges and went to the police with her own story: Negrete had taken pornographic pictures and sexually assaulted her when she was a teen nearly 20 years in the past.
Throughout this time, Negrete’s former girlfriend additionally discovered he had sexually assaulted her 5-year-old daughter.
A month later, Negrete was charged with two counts of prison sexual assault and an extra depend of kid pornography. He was ordered held with out bail.
Bee and the others must wait 5 years to see Negrete held accountable.
At one level, Bee believed they have been going to trial, then she stated she was instructed a plea deal had been provided however rejected.
In August 2024, Bee stated an assistant state’s lawyer known as and knowledgeable her the plea deal was again on the desk, and it appeared Negrete was going to just accept.
Bee determined to jot down a sufferer’s assertion to learn in court docket on the day of the sentencing. The opposite victims within the case supplied statements as nicely.
Main as much as sentencing day, she stated she was each terrified and excited; “I had no thought what to anticipate.”
“For me, personally, I felt it was going to be vital for myself and my therapeutic closure to be there on that day, look him within the eye and browse this,” Bee stated. “On the opposite aspect of it, (I’m) so grateful I used to be ready to do this.”
In her assertion, Bee spoke on to Negrete and addressed not solely how he harmed her as a teen but in addition the continued ache she’d skilled over the past 5 years.
“For over 5 years now, you’ve gotten tried to skirt all accountability and have solely deepened the injuries of your survivors and their family members,” she wrote. “I do know that I’ve been so indignant and grief stricken over the time, vitality, cash, relationships and so on. that you’ve taken from me. I’ve held onto the load of the hurt you’ve induced me for over 15 years now however at present I’m handing that weight over to you.”
On Sept. 11, Negrete pleaded responsible to a depend of prison sexual assault and two counts of possession of kid pornography. He was sentenced to 17 years and 11 years in jail, to serve one after the opposite.
Negrete has to serve at the least 85% of the primary sentence and at the least 50% of the second, which suggests, with the 5 and a half years of credit score he already obtained, Negrete might probably be out of jail in about 14 years.
Bee initially had combined feelings in regards to the plea deal however stated given the circumstances and all of the individuals concerned, it was the simplest method to convey the case to an in depth.
“He’s nonetheless going to be off the road, he’s can’t hurt anybody else, so there may be some consolation there,” Bee stated.
Via all of it, Bee stated she has shaped an empowering bond with the others concerned on this case. She can be motivated to share her story within the hope that it helps different survivors of sexual violence.
As she wrote in her assertion to the choose, chatting with fellow survivors; “There’s extra love and pleasure on the opposite aspect and I actually hope you’ll be part of me there.”
