A Salt Lake County man was sentenced Friday to four consecutive prison terms for kidnapping young girls from their homes in Kearns.
A tearful Scott Crose, 34, pleaded for mercy but got none from 3rd District Judge Homer Wilkinson, who said he felt it was his obligation to give the maximum sentence."The crimes of this nature are so serious they just cannot go unpunished," Wilkinson said.
Crose pleaded guilty last month to burglary and aggravated kidnapping in connection with an attack on a 14-year-old girl who was abducted from her home early on Oct. 4.
He also pleaded guilty to burglary and attempted rape in connection with the abduction of a 12-year-old girl from her home early on July 9.
Crose also confessed to kidnapping two other girls in April and September.
The girls, all of whom were asleep, were taken outside of their homes, where they were sexually abused.
The crimes, which provoked widespread fear among parents and children, were similar to three others in Salt Lake City and West Valley City, but police have identified a different suspect in those cases, though no charges have been filed.
Before being sentenced, Crose read a written statement to the court, expressing remorse and asking for mercy.
"I want to express my heartfelt sorrow for the trauma I have caused the young children," he said. "I am still searching my soul for the reasons I committed these crimes against these children.
"I have three children of my own and have tried to imagine the trauma this would have caused them."
Crose acknowledged he "terrorized this valley's children and parents" and asked for psychiatric help and placement into the Utah State Prison's sexual-abuse treatment program.
"I have been terribly scarred by these crimes. . . . My goal is to reform my life psychologically and spiritually."
Arguing for maximum and consecutive sentences, Deputy Salt Lake County Attorney Tom Vuyk said, "I don't think there has been a case, other than (Arthur) Gary Bishop, that has brought so much concern to the public than this case." Bishop was executed in 1988 for sexually torturing and killing five young boys.
Wilkinson ordered Crose to serve two terms of one to 15 years and two five-to-life terms. The judge said the sentences must run consecutively. He recommended that Crose be placed in a sexual-abuse treatment program.
Crose must also pay two $10,000 fines and restitution to all four victims, the judge ordered.