By Elizabeth Ridenour
A Warner woman charged with enabling the sexual abuse of a 9-year-old child pleaded guilty Wednesday in Muskogee County District Court.
Sherry LaBounty, 48, had been charged with allowing the child to be cared for by her husband, Charles LaBounty, when she knew or reasonably should have known the child was at risk of sexual abuse, according to court records. The incidents took place between Sept. 1, 2005 and Sept. 22, 2007.
“Do you actually admit that you did what you’ve been accused of?” District Judge Tom Alford asked Sherry LaBounty.
“Yes, your honor,” she said.
She went on to say that she knew the child had been abused.
“I confronted my child, and yes, I was aware of it,” she said.
An affidavit in the case states the child told Sherry LaBounty about the sexual abuse two years ago. Sherry LaBounty gave a statement that she knew of the abuse and had confronted Charles LaBounty about the abuse two years ago.
LaBounty entered a blind plea, which means no deal has been agreed upon with prosecutors, even though the district attorney’s office had offered her a five-year suspended sentence. Alford will determine LaBounty’s sentence following a presentence investigation.
Alford explained that LaBounty could been sentenced to life in prison, and under law would have to serve 85 percent of her time. He also explained to LaBounty that he did not have to go along with any prior deal prosecutors attempted to make with her.
“The court will not be bound by any previous offers,” he told her.
“Yes, I understand,” she said as she stood before him.
LaBounty’s husband, Charles James “Chuck” LaBounty, 48, plead guilty Jan. 16 to two counts of lewd molestation and one count of rape. Three other lewd molestation and two counts of rape were dismissed. He received three concurrent 20-year suspended sentences.
The couple has filed for divorce.
Sherry LaBounty will be back in court in April for sentencing at which time, the victim is expected to testify.
After Charles LaBounty’s plea, District Attorney Larry Moore issued a statement saying that because the victim did not want to go to court to testify, the Muskogee County District Attorney’s Office agreed to the suspended sentences.
“You have to remember the most important person in a case like this is the victim, not the defendant,” said Moore in January. “You must consider the victim’s emotional and mental state of mind and what further damage will be caused to the victim by forcing her to appear in court.”
What’s next
Sherry LaBounty will be back in Muskogee County District Court before District Judge Tom Alford at 10 a.m. April 14 for sentencing.
