Mother sentenced to 54 years for horrific sex abuse of her own children

By Daily Mail Reporter Published: 14:43 EST, 29 October 2013 | Updated: 18:42 EST, 29 October 2013 129 View comments A Florida mother has been sentenced to 54 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing her children together with her husband, a decorated Marine.

Mother sentenced to 54 years for horrific sex abuse of her own children that she and her Purple Heart recipient husband 'had planned since before they were born'

  • Sarah Adleta, 29, asked the court for leniency, claiming that she was manipulated by her husband
  • She said in court during Jonathan Adleta's trial that he convinced her to let him have 'daddy-daughter sex'
  • Miss Adleta performed sex acts on her children on Skype so another man in North Carolina could watch
  • Mental health counselor testified that couple's 4-year-old daughter showed such disturbing sexual behavior she had to be removed from foster home
  • Jonathan Adleta faces life in prison for abusing his daughter

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A Florida mother has been sentenced to 54 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing her children together with her husband, a decorated Marine.

Sarah Adleta, 29, was charged with sexual exploitation of a minor. Her retired Marine ex-husband Jonathan Adleta, who was awarded the Purple Heart, was found guilty last month and faces 10 years to life in jail.

The disgraced Marine officer, 25, allegedly wanted to have 'daddy-daughter sex', according to graphic details from the trial in Orlando, Florida.

Doomed: Sarah Adleta, 29, was charged with sexual exploitation of a minor. Her Marines veteran husband Jonathan Adleta, who was awarded the Purple Heart, was found guilty on Thursday and faces 10 years to life in jail. Doomed: Sarah Adleta, 29, was charged with sexual exploitation of a minor. Her Marines veteran husband Jonathan Adleta, who was awarded the Purple Heart, was found guilty on Thursday and faces 10 years to life in jail.

Doomed: Sarah Adleta, 29, was sentenced to 54 years in federal prison for abusing her two children. Her Marine husband Jonathan Adleta (right), who has been found guilty, will learn his fate in December

Jonathan Adleta allegedly told Sarah when she was pregnant that he would only marry her if she consented to him abusing their daughter while she was expected to do the same to their son, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Even after the couple divorced, the children's horrifying ordeal continued. The mother went to live in Orlando, Florida with the children but her ex convinced her to let him abuse their daughter over Skype. 

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She also brought her daughter to visit her ex-husband in Oklahoma so that he could abuse her.

During Adleta's sentencing hearing Monday, mental health counselor Cherilyn Rowland Petrie testified that the couple's young daughter exhibited such disturbing sexual behaviour that she had to be removed from the home of a family that had been caring for her following the arrest of her parents, The Orlando Sentinel reported.

Traumatized: A mental health expert testified that the couple's daughter (left) had the developmental level of an 18-month-old and exhibited such disturbing sexual behaviour that she had to be removed from a foster home

Traumatized: A mental health expert testified that the couple's daughter (left) had the developmental level of an 18-month-old and exhibited such disturbing sexual behaviour that she had to be removed from a foster home

The girl, who was 4 years old at the time, had the developmental level of an 18-month-old, was malnourished and not potty-trained.

Sarah Adleta's father made an emotional plea asking the judge to give his daughter the maximum sentence, telling the court that 'justice is needed.'

The 29-year-old appealed for mercy, telling the judge that she was manipulated by her ex-husband, Jonathan Adleta.

The defense was hoping that the mother of two would get a concurrent sentence of 27 years instead of two consecutive 27-year terms, with public defender James Smith arguing that Miss Adleta helped convict her ex-husband by offering her testimony against him.

However, Judge Roy Dalton Jr said that the facts of this case were so 'egregious' that he decided to sentence her to 27 years in prison for each of the two counts.

The abuse began when the little girl was born in March 2009. The couple married the following year.

Sarah Adleta  told the court this week that she consented to the abuse of her children because she loved Adleta and needed the financial support.

Horrifying: Jurors heard despicable details of the sexual abuse of two young children at Orlando federal court this week (pictured)

Horrifying: Jurors heard despicable details of the sexual abuse of two young children at Orlando federal court this week (pictured)

The Adletas' horrifying and despicable sexual abuse of their own children was only uncovered when FBI were tipped off when the mother sent naked pictures of herself and the toddlers to a man in North Carolina. 

The mother performed sex acts on her children so the man, Aaron Dixon, could watch, according to testimony she gave the court during her husband's trial last month. 

Jonathan Adleta served with the U.S. Marines for four years as a training officer. He was awarded the Purple Heart following a tour of Afghanistan. His sentencing has been scheduled for December.

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