Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- Rocio Isabel Smith was sentenced to prison for sexually abusing a 14-year-old.
- She received two concurrent prison terms of one to 15 years each.
- District Attorney Sim Gill emphasized the importance of protecting children from exploitation.
SALT LAKE CITY — A woman was sentenced to prison for sexual abuse of a teenager who was at her home as her child's friend.
Rocio Isabel Smith, 45, of Sandy was convicted by a jury on Nov. 8 of two counts of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony, and sentenced on Jan. 3 to two prison terms of one to 15 years. Third District Judge Matthew Bates ordered the sentences to run at the same time.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said in a statement on Thursday he appreciates the jury's verdict and the judge sending Smith to prison.
"Adults who take advantage of our youth will be held to account for their abhorrent actions. We expect the adults in our community to protect our children, not exploit them," Gill said.
According to the statement, in October 2021, a 14-year-old was at her home and she touched him under his shirt, even when he told her he was only 14. It said she locked the teenager in a dark room with her and tried to take his belt off, punching him in the chest when he told her no.
Later, during that same visit, the statement says the woman sat on the couch next to the 14-year-old putting a blanket over them and dug her nails into his arms to keep the teenager from taking the blanket off. Then, according to the statement, the woman unbuckled the teen's belt and attempted to unzip his pants. After the teen stopped her, the woman touched him over his clothes and made him touch her, as well.
She was charged in August of 2022. She was released from custody during the pending of the case on an ankle monitor but was ordered to stay away from anyone under 18 besides her own children. The judge gave Smith permission on a few occasions to be in supervised areas with other children, including extended family members on a few holidays, one baby shower but not another and going to her son's farewell.
Smith testified at her trial, which lasted four days. The jury, after deliberating for less than two hours, found her guilty of forcible sexual abuse but not guilty of causing a child or vulnerable adult to be exposed to a controlled substance, a third-degree felony.
