Blue State Pedophiles: Judge orders couple to stand trial on 88 counts in molestation of 4-year-old

http://www.ocregister.com/news/child-hwang-sikat-1931908-charged-molestation

Thursday, November 29, 2007

2 face trial on abuse charges

Judge orders man and woman to stand trial on 88 counts in alleged

molestation of 4-year-old relative.

Sheila Sikat, 24, and David Hwang, 34, of Rancho Santa Margarita, will stand

trial on 88 counts relating to the alleged molestation of a 4-year-old

female relative recorded on videotape, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Everett W. Dickey made the decision after

watching four hours of video that allegedly show the assaults. He considered

testimony from a sheriff's investigator who said Sikat admitted she and

Hwang engaged in sex acts with the child.

THE CASE

The prosecution: Deputy District Attorney Beth Costello argued that Sikat

and Hwang molested the girl on several overnight stays from January 2001 to

2003. They arranged to be alone with the child by offering to baby-sit,

saying they wanted to learn how to be parents in the future, Costello said.

On Tuesday, Dickey called such pretenses "particularly pernicious," adding:

"Their real purpose was to molest her."

Sikat's defense: Defense attorney Ed Munoz argued that Sikat should not be

charged with molestation because she did not molest the child herself and

simply was present when the crimes were committed by her husband.

But Dickey ruled that Sikat should be charged with molestation, citing

California law that says someone who aids or abets a crime can be charged

with the crime.

Hwang's defense: Defense attorney Rudolph Loewenstein argued that Hwang

shouldn't be charged with kidnapping because the child's mother willingly

gave the child to Hwang and Sikat.

Dickey disagreed and held the couple to answer on kidnapping charges. He

sided with Costello, who argued that they should be charged with kidnapping

because they obtained access to the girl under false pretenses.

CHARGES

The couple, who were arrested in September, are charged with 77

child-molestation counts, five kidnapping counts, five counts relating to

using a child for pornography. All the counts involve the alleged

molestation of the one girl in five separate, videotaped instances.

They also are charged with misdemeanor possession of child pornography,

which authorities say was found on a home computer.

If convicted, they face multiple life prison terms.

Hwang also faces molestation charges in Texas for several other alleged

victims supposedly recorded on video. He will be extradited there after the

outcome of this case.

WHAT'S NEXT

Sikat and Hwang will appear May 4 in the Center Justice Center in Santa Ana

to have their case assigned to a trial judge. They remain in custody at

Orange County Jail without the option of bail.