Woman Sentenced To 40 Years To Life In Prison For School Abduction, Sexual Assault
PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) — A former day care worker convicted of abducting a five-year-old girl from her West Philadelphia school classroom and sexually assaulting her was sentenced on Monday.
Christina Regusters was sentenced to 40 years to life behind bars with the possibility of parole after 40 years.
#BREAKING: 22-year-old Christina Regusters sentenced 40 years to Life in prison for abduction/sex assault of kindergartener. @CBSPhilly
— Steve Patterson (@PattersonCBS3) October 5, 2015
Her sentencing had been postponed several times as her lawyers waited on psychological reports.
Regusters, 22, maintained her innocence throughout her trial, but a jury found her guilty of dressing in Muslim clothing to pass as the victim's mother, abducting the child from Bryant Elementary School in January 2013, then sexually assaulting her.
The girl was found the next morning at an Upper Darby playground half-naked.
Defense attorney Tom Kline represented the family of the victim:
"She is a remarkable child, when she literally broke the case, led the police to the home, gave the police the key clue with the talking bird. And now' she's a remarkable girl in recovery, I would suggest to you a recovery that will last the rest of her life."
A jury convicted Regusters on charges including Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault and Indecent Deviate Sexual Intercourse.
"My client wants me to file a motion for reconsideration," says W. Fred Harrison, who represents Regusters. "She wants me to file an appeal as well."
The little girl is now eight years old.
KYW Newsradio's Kim Glovas contributed to this story...