Man sentenced to probation in sex case

A 31-year-old Gardnerville man, diagnosed with mild retardation, was sentenced Monday to five years probation for the statutory sexual seduction and false imprisonment of a 14-year-old girl.

District Judge Michael Gibbons sentenced Robert Stevenson following a 20-minute statement by the girl's father who said she has been hospitalized since the August incident after she cut herself and threatened suicide.

The man said he didn't believe prison was appropriate for Stevenson, who had no prior criminal record, but hoped the defender would get the help he needs so no one else would suffer as his daughter has.

"I think he needs to be in close supervision and never be around children or parks. I hope my daughter never sees him again. I am working very, very hard to get my little girl back," the man said.

The night of the attack, the father said he left their apartment for 30 minutes to check an acquaintance's residence because she feared someone was trying to break in.

"When I got back, police were everywhere and my daughter was screaming she'd been raped," the father told District Judge Michael Gibbons.

He said his daughter went from a straight-A student who never missed school to a girl for whom "a day doesn't go by that she doesn't want to kill herself."

"She told me she cut herself so no man will ever want her," he said.

Complicating her health is the fact that she was in a traffic accident more than a year ago that killed her mother.

He said the family recently moved to Carson Valley and the girl was looking forward to starting school when she was victimized by Stevenson.

He also lamented the lack of help locally, saying his daughter was put on a six-month waiting list for Douglas County Mental Health.

Gibbons asked what the girl was doing out of her apartment at 3 a.m. with a 14-year-old boy and Stevenson.

The father said the teenagers had been sending text messages, and they all lived in the same apartment complex as Stevenson.

The defendant had been placed there by his grandparents who had raised him since birth, but felt he needed to learn to live on his own as they grew older.

Gibbons said he sentenced Stevenson to closely supervised probation instead of prison for several reasons, including the fact the defendant did not have intercourse with the girl, but admitted touching her improperly.

Gibbons said a psychosexual evaluation determined Stevenson was not at high risk to reoffend and was not considered a predator.

Stevenson will be on lifetime supervision and must register as a sex offender. He forbidden to have alcohol or controlled substances and cannot be with anyone under 18 without another adult present.

Gibbons said although Stevenson was 31, his chronological age was much younger due to his mental health.

According to reports, Stevenson also bought alcohol for the teenagers.

Stevenson apologized for "the one mistake in my whole life."

"I will never, never do anything in my whole life again," Stevenson said.

He spent 37 days in Douglas County Jail after his arrest which he described as "pure torture for me."

"I know bad people should go here (to jail)," Stevenson said. "I understand I did something bad.

"I do feel sorry for the victim. I wish it never happened. I am very, very sorry for what I did. I don't want to go to prison. It was an accident to buy alcohol for minors."

Gibbons ordered Stevenson to perform 100 hours of community service and have no contact with the girl.

He sentenced him to up to three years in Nevada State Prison on the felony seduction charge and up to 12 months for false imprisonment.

The victim said Stevenson blocked her exit from the apartment because he said he was afraid he would get in trouble.

Gibbons told the girl's father that his statement was "one of the best victim statements I've ever heard. Obviously this tragic situation will affect you and your family for quite some time."

Stevenson's lawyer Kris Brown said her client had lived a sheltered life with his grandparents and lacked the knowledge to deal with social and sexual situations.

"We need to give him the tools necessary to avoid these type of situations if they ever come up again," Brown said. "Prison is above and beyond punishment for Mr. Stevenson."

Prosecutor Karen Dustman asked for prison because she said in addition to the inappropriate touching, Stevenson falsely imprisoned the girl, supplied alcohol and blamed her, showing no remorse.

Stevenson had received a preliminary evaluation in jail, which determined he was competent to aid in his defense.

He bought alcohol for the 14-year-old couple, whom he said he thought were older. According to court documents, they were on his bed when Stevenson laid down next to them and put his hand in the girl's pants.

Stevenson's probation includes continued treatment, participation in mental health court and staying out of casinos and bars. He must stay 500 feet from places where children associate and is forbidden to have sexually explicit material or use the Internet.