BOISE -- A former Boise Police officer who police say molested at least four children under two years old was sentenced to 25 years in prison in Ada County Court Wednesday.
Fourth District Judge Michael Wetherell handed down the maximum sentence late Wednesday afternoon for 58-year-old Stephen Young. Young must serve at least 12.5 years before he is eligible for parole.
Young pleaded guilty in June to one count of sexual battery of a child after striking a deal with prosecutors.
Ada County Sheriff's deputies say back in March, Young admitted to molesting four young children.
Ada County prosecutors revealed today that Young has confessed to molesting four more victims, all of whom are either family or family friends. This latest confession brings his victims to at least 13, but police say that number could be more than 20.
"He absolutely has no idea of the havoc and confusion and trauma he has unleashed," Ada County Deputy Prosecutor Jean Fisher said.
Young has confessed to molesting at least a dozen of his family members and family friends, all of whom were babies or toddlers at the time. Prosecutors say the abuse happened over a period of more than 30 years. The confessions have come out over the last six months, with the most recent just this week.
Three parents of victims read statements to the court and Young during the sentencing hearing, two of which said they believed the true amount of victims will never be known as they don't believe Young will ever fully confess the truth.
"I just know that there's still more. There's a lot more. There's a lot more that he needs to come clear with for himself," a mother of a victim said.
"I still do not believe that he has provided a complete list of victims. I don't think we will ever know the full extent of the damage he has caused," a father of a victim said.
From the defense table, Young apologized to his victims, family, and the community for betraying their trust.
"I wish I had the power to take back the evil I have done. I wish that being deeply sorry could somehow heal the hearts I have broken," Stephen Young said.
The judge recognized Young's crimes could likely have gone unknown and unpunished had he not confessed, but the judge focused on the impact Young's family and victims will forever face.
"There is no sentence that I can impose on you that the victims or their families is ever going to feel is severe enough," Fourth District Judge Michael Wetherell said.
For some family members the lasting impact is too great for them to ever look past.
"I think there is too much damage that has been done. I hope for him as a human being that he can make things right, but I think, like I said there's too much damage done, and there won't be any reconnection," a mother of victims said.
Although the state could pursue more charges against Young for the latest round of confessions, prosecutors said they probably will not after today's 25-year sentence.
Investigators say they have evidence Young was molesting other children during his time as a school resource officer in the Boise School District, though those children were not related to his job. He worked at a half dozen schools between 1995 and 2005.
Boise Police Chief Michael Masterson issued this statement following Young's sentencing:
Most importantly, my thoughts go out to the victims of these crimes and their families. The crimes committed by Mr, Young are appalling and unconscionable.
I applaud and appreciate the professional and thorough work of the Sheriff’s Office investigators and Ada County Prosecutors, and support the judgment of the court in today’s sentencing decision. Mr. Young took an oath to protect others and he grossly violated that trust. My hope is today’s sentencing will bring some measure of closure and assist in what is most assuredly a very difficult healing process for victims and their families.
Despite the fact the case against of Mr. Young surfaced following his retirement, it’s timely to reiterate that both members of the community and members of the law enforcement profession expect the highest level of professional and ethical conduct from officers, both on and off-duty. The vast majority of those in law enforcement are proud to quietly but honorably serve their community, do so with distinction, and have my fullest and most sincere admiration and support.
Young was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
