The District Attorney’s office in Montezuma County said recent convictions and plea agreements in four sexual assault crimes against children shows persistence from survivors and dedication among community supporters and legal coordinators.
District Attorney Jeremy Reed credited the conclusions to the office’s prosecutors and staff, investigators, victim advocates, and collaboration among law enforcement and outside experts who helped build strong enough cases.
The outcomes the office highlighted were for the 22nd Judicial District’s recent cases against Alvin Yazzie, Shayne Rowley, Jasper Hurst and Timothy Gray.
Gray was convicted in December of sexually assaulting a child as someone in a position of trust and for showing a pattern of abuse after a jury deliberated about 2½ hours.
A jury also delivered a guilty verdict in the more-recent Rowley case, finding the Utah resident sexually assaulted a child under age 15 as someone in a position of trust and showing a pattern of abuse.
Prosecutors described it as one of the more difficult child sexual assault cases their office handled because it involved the abuse of a very young child by her father. Reed said the case was challenging for several reasons and remained under investigation for years.
“It’s difficult for even prosecutors when that’s the subject material and you’re spending a lot of time getting to know the victim,” Reed said. “It’s just the reality those things affect you but more important to you both professionally and personally to get a good result.”
Yazzie pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a child, a third-degree felony, and in March he received an indeterminate sentence of 10 years to life in prison – bringing the decision to a future board to determine when he is eligible for parole.
While also in March, Hurst, a man from Pleasant View and previously convicted sex offender, pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault on a child – a felony – in a case alleging repeated abuse.
The cases involve adults committing serious crimes against minors, and Reed said the effects on survivors can be lifelong, substantial and debilitating.
“Cases which involve victimizing children are very important to this office. They are a priority. Frankly, my staff has been doing an excellent job of getting justice for these survivors of these terrible crimes,” Reed said.
Child sexual assault prosecutions are more difficult based on the types of evidence available. The cases present emotional and procedural challenges other felony cases may not have.
Prosecutors in the 22nd district said one major challenge is that the victims are children, meaning investigators and attorneys must carefully gather testimony without being suggestive toward their statements.
Four Corners Child Advocacy Center, sometimes called The NEST in Cortez, provides trained professionals who conduct forensic interviews. Under a guidelines for best practices, interviews are designed to gather reliable information that’s admissible in court while trying to avoid re-traumatizing the children.
Clarisa Osborn, office manager for the D.A., said some recent cases required expert psychologists to provide behavioral analysis, given that each situation is complex and distinct. At the Rowley trial, many provided a consistent presence for survivors, including advocates from Sexual Assault Services Organization of Durango and Bikers against Child Abuse of Colorado and many others.
“Specifically, in the Rowley case, all of them made sure to attend the court hearings,” Osborn said. “They knew that they were supported, that they were believed, and this community came together to support them through this process.”
Additionally, Reed named the social services agency as key players at trial to investigate family dynamics. The agency guides children and caregivers throughout the legal process and coordinates resources to reduce secondary trauma.
“They offer free therapy,” Osborn said. “I think that's really important to highlight as well, so there's some consistency for the child – having the same person throughout all this and having that support with people that they're familiar with.”
awatson@the-journal.com
