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NEWPORT- Stephen P. Graves, 37, was sentenced to six months in jail and ordered to undergo sex offender treatment as part of a Special Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative. Graves was sentenced Thursday, May 30, in Pend Oreille County Superior Court by Judge Robin McCroskey.
Graves had pleaded guilty weeks earlier to third-degree rape of a child and three counts of third-degree child molestation for abusing a 14-year-old girl.
Prosecuting attorney Lori Preuss agreed with the SOSA and recommended a 12-month sentence followed by 36 months of community custody. During the community custody, Graves would have to complete sex offender treatment. She said Graves had been evaluated by Dr. Paul M. Wertz and Wertz found him to be a good candidate for treatment. Andy Hill, probation officer for the state Department of Corrections, said he also thought the SOSA sentence would get Graves the treatment he required to ensure he didn’t commit the crimes again.
Defense attorney Christian Phelps noted that Graves disclosed his own criminal behavior, something that rarely happens. He said Graves had overcome a chemical addiction through treatment. He said Graves would have similar success with sex offender treatment. He asked that Graves be released with credit for 42 days he’s been in jail so he could begin the sex offender treatment program.
The victim read a victim impact statement in court before sentencing. She said she froze when she was abused in September, not knowing what to do.
“I knew what was happening to me was wrong, but I didn’t know what to do,” she said. That day, Graves told his wife what he had done and went to a church for advice.
The victim said when she went to school following the incident she journaled things like “I wish I was never born,” “I feel like I’ll never recover from this treachery,” and “I feel like I just take up room someone else could use.”
She said she didn’t know she would blame herself for what happened.
Elisha Rose Graves, Grave’s wife, also gave an impact statement. She said she was surprised and hurt by what she heard from Graves. She said she moved to Bear Paw Camp within days of hearing what happened.
She said for the first couple days, all she could do was lay on the couch at an unfamiliar place, as grief and remorse washed over her. It was as though someone had died, she said. In some ways a death had occurred, she said. The death of trust between herself and Graves and the death of their marriage.
Her faith had helped her get through the ordeal, she said, and forgiveness was required by her religion. She said she didn’t want to be a ‘victim of unforgiveness,’ and works to forgive Graves.
Evil exists in the world, she said her therapist had helped her understand that that she had nothing to do with other people’s choices.
Graves also spoke. He apologized to the victim and his wife.
“I’m so terribly sorry for putting you through hell,” he said. “You are not to blame for what I did.”
He said he hopes they can find it in their hearts to forgive him and to find healing for themselves.
Graves said pornography led to the abuse. Judge McCroskey agreed to go along with the SOSA sentence. She said Graves was fortunate to be part of a faith-based community that understands the importance of forgiveness. She said she’s not sure she could forgive in a similar situation.
She said there was a balance between punishing Graves and treatment. She said looking at his criminal history, that he had skated by with some risky substance abuse behavior. He had done a day or two in jail on different occasions because of the behavior.
She said he did complete drug court and had been sober for six years.
“What that tells me is that you are very capable of change,” he said. She said Dr. Wertz’ report shows he was also susceptible to disorders to that lead him to dangerous behavior.
McCroskey Wertz and Wilson made recommendations that treatment will work on Graves. That had a big impact on her decision, she said.
In addition to six months in jail and 36-months community custody and sex offender treatment, McCroskey imposed legal financial obligations of $1,865. She restitution would be set in a separate hearing.
