Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
- Randy Lessing was sentenced to five years to life in prison for killing his 2-year-old stepdaughter after being found guilty of reckless child abuse homicide.
- The girl's mother talked about her grief, saying she is "barely hanging on by a thread."
- The prosecution argued for consecutive sentences to deter future child abuse incidents, which the judge gave.
ST. GEORGE — A grieving mother pleaded with a judge this week to give a man found guilty of killing her 2-year-old daughter the maximum possible sentence.
"Since the date Emmeline was killed, my life has been consumed by grief. Every day is a struggle as I try to come to terms with the reality that I will never see my daughter again," ZzKora Ringger said at Tuesday's sentencing for Randy Lessing.
The mother said she dreamt of getting her daughter, Emmaline Mitchell, ready for dances or dates and walking her down the aisle, but now she will never see that happen, and neither will her daughter. She said the emotional toll from her loss has been overwhelming.
Ringger talked of financial difficulties and her inability to work because of her grief. Every day is a fight for her life and the life of her young son, she said.
"I'm barely hanging on by a thread, just to be here for my son and Emmaline," Ringger said.
Fifth District Court Judge Jay Winward told the woman she is a great mother and said she would see her daughter again after this life and have the chance to teach her how to tie her shoes and ride a bike, adding, "It's going to be awesome."
'Inexcusable'
Lessing, 30, of LaVerkin, was found guilty of killing Emmeline, his stepdaughter, in November. At the sentencing, Winward told him that until he is honest about his actions, he will be lost. He said Lessing's claim that he was holding Emmaline on his shoulders when she fell on the carpeted floor doesn't match reality.
"Until you're honest about that, frankly, you're going to be dead inside and you're going to be lost, and you will not find redemption or forgiveness in this life or the next," Winward said.
The judge said the jury ultimately decided that even if Lessing's version of the events were true, he would still be guilty of child abuse homicide through negligence. However, he said the jury determined there is no way his story actually happened and that if it did, he would have been honest about it immediately.
"You say that she's the light of your life," Winward said. "Look at it: You impede doctors from doing their job — and that's inexcusable. And you had resources, you had a good life, you had good parents a good education, and you threw it all away for drugs," Winward said.
The judge said it would be reasonable to infer from the evidence that Lessing had been doing drugs with friends or was high on pain meds when he threw his stepdaughter across the room, killing her. The case was filed on July 19, 2023, after police received a call that an unconscious 2-year-old had been admitted to St. George Regional Hospital.
Winward sentenced Lessing to five years to life in prison for reckless child abuse homicide, a first-degree felony; and one to 15 years for obstructing justice, a second-degree felony. He ordering those sentences to run consecutively.
He also ordered the man to serve sentences imposed in four other cases that had previously been suspended while Lessing served probation. Those include zero to five years in prison for theft, a third-degree felony; three terms of one year in jail for possession or use of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor; and six months in jail for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a class B misdemeanor. Those sentences will run consecutively to the prison sentences in the homicide case.
'Broken'
Lessing apologized to everyone affected by the "horrible tragedy," and said, "There's nothing I can say or do that can take this pain away."
He told Emmaline's mother and baby brother he would forever be sorry for them and love them.
"There are no words to describe how broken I am or how broken her mother is. I pray God eases her pain every day," he said.
Ringger said Lessing is dangerous and has not shown remorse. She said she is afraid if he is released, he will try to gain custody of their son or hurt him too. She said she fears teaching her son about what happened to Emmaline and why his dad is not around.
Prosecutors pushed for the consecutive sentences on both the obstruction of justice charge and on charges in the four cases he was serving probation for.
Ryan Shaum, deputy Washington County attorney, said this tragedy was "entirely preventable," and asked the judge to use the sentence to deter others from doing similar things.
"We will not tolerate anyone who commits an act of violence against a child, let alone causes (their) death," he said.
Lessing's attorney had asked the judge to close the other cases with probation for time already served and order the sentences for the two charges in this case to run concurrently. He said between five years and life in prison would be sufficient for this case, asking the judge to remember the case was not charged as an intentional act.
Winward followed the suggestions from prosecutors.
