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State's attorney seeks heavy sentence to
deter other potential child abuse
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[NOV. 18, 2003]
Logan County State's
Attorney Tim Huyett filed a two-count information Monday charging
Robin L. Graham, 18, of San Jose with the first-degree murder of her
11-month-old son, Austin. The charges allege that she created a
strong probability of death or great bodily harm to Austin when she
placed him in a bathtub of scalding water unsupervised, which
ultimately caused his death by severely burning the infant. If
convicted of the most serious charge, Graham could face a maximum
sentence of 100 years in the Department of Corrections.
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This is the third case of child murder
in the past 2½ years in Logan County, Huyett said. The first came
when Daynesia Williams, 11 months at the time of her death, was
killed at the hand of Edward Lascola. Lascola is serving 40 years
after being convicted of the May 2001 killing by a Logan County jury
in October of 2002. The second case is currently pending against
Louis Russo. Russo is charged with the March 3 beating death of his
11-week-old child, Jule Russo. Russo's case is currently set for
jury trial in January of 2004.
"These are sad times, and I have no
idea why Logan County is a focal point for these heinous crimes. I
can only assure you that myself and the law enforcement community
will be tireless in pursuing justice for these most innocent of
victims," Huyett said. "We asked for 100 years at the Lascola
sentencing hearing, hoping to send a message to those who abuse
children. I don't know if that message was heard. I will again seek
heavy punishment in the hope that others who may be tempted to abuse
a child will be deterred," he said.
Huyett asked people to be ever vigilant
on behalf of children they may see in daily life. Huyett noted that
in each case there were people who saw the signs of abuse but took
no action, for whatever reason.
"People think these ultimate acts of
violence just won't happen, but it all too often does," Huyett said.
"We must be proactive in protecting our children."
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Logan County Sheriff Steve Nichols
concurred. "As a former child protective investigator with DCFS
[before he took over the sheriff's office in December of 2002], I
have witnessed firsthand the effects of child abuse. If you think a
child's being abused, they probably are. Call it in to the child
abuse hot line at 1 (800) 25A-BUSE. "The calls can be anonymous, but
at least an investigator will be in the door," said Nichols.
One of the keys signs is the age of the
people involved, noted Nichols. "Kids having kids when they just
aren't ready to be parents seems to be a common theme," he said.
Lascola was 20 years old at the time he
murdered Daynesia. Russo was 19 at the time of Jule's death. Robin
Graham is 18.
"This is our community," Huyett said.
"Let's see if we can turn it around and make it more than a
curiosity for its murder rate. Let's make it a great place to raise
children and have this be the last of this kind of case for years to
come."
The case is
being investigated by the Logan County Sheriff's Department in a
joint effort with the San Jose Police Department, which is headed by
Aaron Hodgson.
[News release
from Tim Huyett,
Logan County state's attorney]
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