Washington mother sentenced to 25 years in toddler sex-abuse case

PORTLAND – A Washington woman who took her toddler daughter across state lines for sexual abuse was sentenced Monday to 25 years in prison.

Prosecutors said the woman repeatedly visited the Portland area to have sex with boyfriend James Lee Hickerson. The toddler was often present when the couple had sex and was later included.

Agents found two videos on Hickerson’s phone that show the woman performing a sex act on her daughter.

The Associated Press is withholding the 29-year-old mother’s name to protect the child’s identity.

The woman pleaded guilty in May to transportation of a minor for criminal sexual activity. But she submitted a five-page, handwritten letter to U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon before sentencing that caused the judge to ask if she wanted to withdraw her plea.

Though the woman did not take that step, she also didn’t accept full responsibility. She said her boyfriend was the instigator.

“I never hurt my daughter, not the way the court is looking at it,” she said. “… You’re only getting a glimpse of what happened.”

The judge replied: “It may be true that I’m only getting a portion of what happened, but from the portion I have seen and I have read, it does appear to me that you have failed the fundamental responsibility of a parent, which is to protect one’s child.”

The woman must register as a sex offender when she leaves prison and spend 10 years on supervised release. During that period, she can’t speak with her daughter unless she gets approval from a probation officer.

Hickerson has pleaded guilty to producing child pornography and transporting a minor for sexual activity.