The decision to leave two girls in the care of a known sex offender who would eventually create pornography with the children has landed a Juneau mother in prison for 30 months.
Mary Chessica Hauge, 33, remained silent and appeared unaffected by the news in court Thursday that she will spend the next two and a half years behind bars, separated from her two daughters who suffered repeated sexual assaults by their biological father Jonathan A. Hayward, 45. It was the same silent and unmoving behavior that Hauge presented during her trial, and though her attorney Nicholas Polasky said on Thursday her quiet demeanor has been used against her unfairly, even the judge seemed to find it odd.
“There does appear to be something of an emotional disconnect,” Judge Trevor Stephens said.
A Juneau jury found Hauge guilty of eight felony counts of child endangerment in April. The children’s sexual abuser, Hayward, is serving a life sentence for raping the children he shares with Hauge, who were approximately 1 and 5 when the abuse began.
[Rapist Jonathan Hayward hopes to outlive sentence]
Assistant District Attorney Angie Kemp told the judge during the sentencing that she believes that an emotional disconnect exists in Hauge because she was not just negligent in care but was a compliant party in the sexual acts.
Judge Stephens said his sentence was not based on Hayward’s actions or on acts the state believes Hauge is guilty of, only for the felony endangerment charges proven during trial.
[Jury convicts Juneau mother of child endangerment]
The sentencing, which includes 18 months suspended, is in line with what ADA Kemp asked of the judge. Polasky, on the other hand, was visibly taken aback by the decision and said he was unprepared for such a conclusion. He asked the judge for no time served, or if any, something under 90 days because that is what Hauge has already served.
Seven friends of Hauge sent letters to the judge before the sentencing, asking for compassion in her sentencing. Those included a letter from Rev. Gordon Blue of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, where Hauge attends, stating Hauge “could neither defend her children nor herself” during the events, a fact the jury failed to realize.
Rep. Cathy Muñoz, who attends the same church as Hauge, sent a letter stating she is “impressed by (Hauge’s) strong Christian faith and her dedication to regular attendance.”
Outside the courtroom, ADA Kemp told the Empire she understands why people might feel compelled to vouch for someone like Hauge, who has been found guilty of “horrific” crimes. Those people probably never saw the side of Hauge capable of these crimes because criminals tend to hide the worst parts of themselves from the public, Kemp said.
Although Judge Stephens told Kemp he did not believe general deterrence should play any role in his sentencing of one woman, she still argued in court that Thursday’s sentencing could create the kind of precedent that could save another child from experiencing sexual abuse.
“(Parents) have to know that they’re going to be held accountable when they fail their children like Ms. Hauge did,” Kemp said. “Maybe, just maybe … this sentence and the effect that it has on the community might compel that person to say … I’m not going to abandon my children and leave them exposed and vulnerable and at risk in the hands of a monster.”
Hauge was not immediately taken into custody and has the option to turn herself in before her next court appearance scheduled for Sept. 2.
• Contact reporter Paula Ann Solis at 523-2272 or paula.solis@juneauempire.com.
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