Last Updated on February 4, 2019 9:45 am
Boone, NC – Elizabeth Ann Sanders, 23, of Boone was convicted on Thursday, January 31, 2019 by a Watauga County jury of the felony of Statutory Sexual Offense with a Child by an Adult.
Sanders came to the attention of the Boone Police Department in late 2017 after the minor victim reported the abuse to her therapist. A forensic interview with the minor victim revealed that Sanders had been the victim’s babysitter. Sanders took care of the minor victim when the minor victim’s mother was at work. Sanders took advantage of her caregiving role to sexually abuse the minor victim. The victim reported in the interview that this abuse occurred every time that Sanders watched the victim while her mother was at work. Sanders was interviewed by law enforcement and admitted to violating the minor victim on one occasion.
The Honorable Judge Marvin P. Pope sentenced Sanders to an active sentence of not less than 25 years and not more than 31 years in prison.
“My office remains committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community by holding sexual predators accountable for their actions,” District Attorney Seth Banks said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the emotional scars that Sanders has left on her victim are likely to last even longer than the Defendant’s sentence. I would like to thank Assistant District Attorney Drew Cochran for his hard work on this case. I would also like to thank Detective Jason Reid, the Boone Police Department, and the Children’s Advocacy Center of the Blue Ridge for their hard work in seeking justice for the victims of sexual assault.”
