A woman who prosecutors said was second in command of an Ogden polygamist group was sentenced to serve from 10 years to life in prison for sexually abusing children within the group.
Sharon Kapp, 36, was sentenced Wednesday by 2nd District Judge David Roth during an emotional hearing where courtroom spectators openly wept.Last month, Kapp pleaded guilty to charges of sodomy on a child, attempted aggravated sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of a minor and dealing harmful material to a minor.
In accepting her guilty pleas to sodomy on a child, the judge had to render a mandatory prison sentence of either five, 10 or 15 years to life.
Defense attorney Robert L. Froerer tried to convince Roth that Kapp should be given the minimum sentence of five years to life because she herself was a victim.
Painting a picture of a submissive woman, Froerer said Kapp was a "product of a very strict home environment as a child" and she was raised to have "blind faith" in her religion by both family and church leaders.
Kapp was slowly indoctrinated into the polygamist group, known as "Sisters," by its leader, Arvin Shreeve, and she was slowly convinced that having sexual contact with children was OK.
"He (Shreeve) had a tremendous amount of influence over her," said Froerer. The attorney told Roth that there was no reason to "crucify" his client because Shreeve's "head is cut off, the group is no more."
"Without her contact with Shreeve, she wouldn't be here today," said Froerer. "I don't understand it. You don't understand it. . . . She's very sorry she hurt the children. She realizes the involvement with children was wrong."
Even though Kapp hasn't had any contact with her immediate family for seven years, her family was present in the courtroom to give her support, Froeher said.
But Weber County Attorney Reed Richards said Kapp was not a victim but rather a willing participant because she was second in command. Richards said evidence indicated that Kapp recruited other members into the group and helped to indoctrinate them.
The county attorney also pointed out that Kapp should get more than five years to life because she sexually abused young children, made them watch live sexual performances and introduced a couple of girls to sexual activity outside the group.
"She knew the things she was doing were grossly wrong," Richards said.
In handing down his decision, Roth said that Shreeve, 61, will likely die in prison because he was sentenced to serve from 20 years to life in prison for his participation in sexually abusing children under the age of 14.
Roth said he had a difficult time believing that her actions had anything to do with her religious beliefs and that she was the most active female member of the group.
Kapp showed no emotion when Roth sentenced her to serve at 10 years to life in prison. Her term will start immediately.
Nine members have been charged with numerous felony counts involving sexual abuse of children since police raided their homes last August in a North Ogden neighborhood. Eight of them are women. Seven have thus far entered guilty pleas and four have been sentenced.
One member, Virginia Stagg, 31, was also to be sentenced on Wednesday, but her hearing was postponed until March 4. She pleaded guilty last month to sexual exploitation of a minor and forcible sexual abuse. She faces up to 30 years in prison.