FAIRBANKS — A 37-year-old Fairbanks man who was sentenced Monday to 45 years in prison for sexually abusing a young girl under his care told the judge he was a “feminist and pacifist” who had “earnest conversations” with the girl “about gender equality and how she should be able to expect the same respect as any man.”
Shawn Thomas Weixelman was charged in July 2016 with 11 counts of felony first-degree sexual abuse of a minor and two counts of felony second-degree abuse of a minor after investigators determined he abused the girl for six years, when she was between the ages of 8 and 14.
The girl’s mother told the court, at the sentencing hearing, that she became ill, needing a year to recover. So she sent the girl to Fairbanks to live with Weixelman.
After her recovery, she left the girl with Weixelman because she “seemed to be doing well,” but later became concerned when the girl told her she was “hearing voices” and had “intrusive thoughts of hurting herself.” The girl was put on medication and returned to the Lower 48 to live with her mother. In May 2016, she confided that Weixelman had been sexually abusing her. The girl’s mother told the court Weixelman had a history of “relentless emotional manipulation and gaslighting” but she “didn’t think he’d do this to a child.”
The girl said she suffers from severe PTSD because of Weixelman’s abuse.
“I will have to carry the weight of what he did for the rest of my life. And I will have to deal with it,” the girl said.
Weixelman told the court he hadn’t realized that his actions were wrong until he and the girl had a conversation in which “she expressed regret that we had done these things,” and “it really just kind of shattered my perception about the way that I had manifested my love.”
Weixelman said he worries about the girl’s ability to trust people, especially men.
“I know that it was incredibly difficult for her. It’s hard for me, because, of course, I’m kind of in a terrible situation,” Weixelman said.
“I don’t know if you’ve had a chance to review my demo reel or my resume, but I am an internationally award winning concept artist,” Weixelman said, adding he felt he could help prisoners learn to treat women with more respect.
“Far too often, both science fiction and fantasy objectify women. It’s something, actually, that nerds and prison inmates have in common. I feel like I have a unique ability to bring the concept of gender equality into the way they think about the future,” Weixelman said.
Calling Weixelman’s actions “abhorrent,” Blankenship sentenced him to 55 years with 10 suspended, leaving an active sentence of 45 year. Weixelman will serve 15 years of probation upon his release. He may be eligible for discretionary parole after serving 25 percent of his active time, but that decision will be made by the Department of Corrections.
http://www.newsminer.com/news/local...cle_b2416df6-d994-11e7-af9d-7f75f68c9db7.html
Shawn Thomas Weixelman was charged in July 2016 with 11 counts of felony first-degree sexual abuse of a minor and two counts of felony second-degree abuse of a minor after investigators determined he abused the girl for six years, when she was between the ages of 8 and 14.
The girl’s mother told the court, at the sentencing hearing, that she became ill, needing a year to recover. So she sent the girl to Fairbanks to live with Weixelman.
After her recovery, she left the girl with Weixelman because she “seemed to be doing well,” but later became concerned when the girl told her she was “hearing voices” and had “intrusive thoughts of hurting herself.” The girl was put on medication and returned to the Lower 48 to live with her mother. In May 2016, she confided that Weixelman had been sexually abusing her. The girl’s mother told the court Weixelman had a history of “relentless emotional manipulation and gaslighting” but she “didn’t think he’d do this to a child.”
The girl said she suffers from severe PTSD because of Weixelman’s abuse.
“I will have to carry the weight of what he did for the rest of my life. And I will have to deal with it,” the girl said.
Weixelman told the court he hadn’t realized that his actions were wrong until he and the girl had a conversation in which “she expressed regret that we had done these things,” and “it really just kind of shattered my perception about the way that I had manifested my love.”
Weixelman said he worries about the girl’s ability to trust people, especially men.
“I know that it was incredibly difficult for her. It’s hard for me, because, of course, I’m kind of in a terrible situation,” Weixelman said.
“I don’t know if you’ve had a chance to review my demo reel or my resume, but I am an internationally award winning concept artist,” Weixelman said, adding he felt he could help prisoners learn to treat women with more respect.
“Far too often, both science fiction and fantasy objectify women. It’s something, actually, that nerds and prison inmates have in common. I feel like I have a unique ability to bring the concept of gender equality into the way they think about the future,” Weixelman said.
Calling Weixelman’s actions “abhorrent,” Blankenship sentenced him to 55 years with 10 suspended, leaving an active sentence of 45 year. Weixelman will serve 15 years of probation upon his release. He may be eligible for discretionary parole after serving 25 percent of his active time, but that decision will be made by the Department of Corrections.
http://www.newsminer.com/news/local...cle_b2416df6-d994-11e7-af9d-7f75f68c9db7.html
