In a case that dates back to 2008, a Homer man pleaded guilty to second-degree sexual abuse of a minor and possession of child pornography.
At a hearing held Nov. 28 at the Homer Courthouse, Kenai Superior Court Judge Charles Huguelet sentenced Corey Rosano, 39, to 15 years in jail with five years suspended on the sexual abuse charge and eight years in jail with four years suspended on the child pornography charge. The charges are to be served consecutively, meaning he will serve 14 years total, not counting the suspended time. The court released the judgment on Dec. 9.
In a plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed three counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, two counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, one count of exploiting a minor and four other counts of possession of child pornography.
“I think that this agreement that the state and defense have come to will deter others in society,” Huguelet said in comments at Rosano’s sentencing hearing. “It’s important for others in society to know that we won’t allow this.”
The case involves the same victim, a girl then under the age of 13, that in February 2013 Rosano had pleaded guilty to abusing in a 2012 incident. Rosano received eight years with six years suspended on an amended charge of attempted second-degree sexual abuse of a minor. In the 2012 charges, Rosano admitted to having sex with the girl in January 2012.
In the 2013 charges, Homer Police said that in April 2013 the girl told her mother that there had been earlier incidents — “More times than you can count,” the mother said in an April 2013 interview with Homer Police Sgt. Lary Kuhns, who investigated the case. Police said Rosano had worked as a nanny for seven years with the girl’s family.
In an August 2013 criminal complaint, Kuhns wrote that former Child Advocacy Center interviewer Jessica Lawmaster, then the executive director of South Peninsula Haven House, talked to the girl. The girl alleged in the interview that from 2010 to 2012 Rosano had sexually abused her.
The girl also alleged that while being abused Rosano had taken photographs of her. When police arrested Rosano in 2012, they seized his computer. Police got a warrant to analyze the computer.
Kuhns wrote that on the computer he found 200 images of child pornography, many of which showed the girl and the girl’s younger sister and a young female relative. Kuhns also found other child porn. The child porn possession charge was for a 2008 incident and the sexual abuse of a minor charge was for a 2010 incident.
In imposing sentencing, Huguelet cited the unusual nature of the child pornography.
“The images in this case were different, not someone going into their basement and downloading child porn,” Huguelet said. “This was someone taking a child that was in their care and who loved them and making child porn. This was an adult who was in a responsible role who sexualized a young child.”
Huguelet also imposed special conditions of probation, including a restriction that Rosano not be around children under 18 or go to places where children might be, such as schools and playgrounds.
Rosano also cannot consume alcohol or cannabis, be in a place where they are sold and live in a home with alcohol. He also cannot live in a home with children and must inform other residents of that home of his criminal history. Rosano also must register as a sex offender.
In his sentencing comments, Judge Huguelet also directed his comments to the victim and her family.
“I hope that this agreement can bring peace to the victim,” he said. “It was not her fault. You are a victim, but your state, your community are behind you and support you and your recovery.”
After his release from prison, Rosano will be on probation for 15 years.
Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong@homernews.com.
