Shannon O’Connor, a 51-year-old Los Gatos mom convicted of orchestrating alcohol-fueled intercourse events involving youngsters, is ready to return to court docket Wednesday morning as her high-profile sentencing continues in Santa Clara County Superior Courtroom.
In court docket Tuesday, O’Connor confronted emotional testimony from a number of households who mentioned she betrayed their belief and uncovered minors to harmful ranges of alcohol and alleged sexual exploitation at gatherings held between 2020 and 2021.
Victims and oldsters described grooming and heavy alcohol publicity.
The household of “John Doe 5” instructed the court docket O’Connor was as soon as a trusted household pal earlier than allegedly manipulating their son by means of social media.
“She blatantly lied to us and made us assume she’d maintain our son secure,” the household mentioned, accusing her of grooming their son and instructing him learn how to eliminate alcohol containers after events in line with KTVU.
In addition they described a Halloween incident involving their 14-year-old son, saying he turned closely intoxicated after attending a gathering.
“We picked him up early, shivering no sneakers no shirt..” the household mentioned. “Whereas youngsters had been getting drunk she was throughout city at one other halloween occasion… Shannon left our 14-year-old youngster with alcohol and an open pool and scorching tub.”
Valerie Doe, mom of John Doe 1 and John Doe 2, additionally testified, describing lasting trauma suffered by her kids.
“With out vital incarceration, she stays a direct risk to the neighborhood. By grooming my kids, she weaponized them.. They now endure from deep-seeded guilt and belief points,” she mentioned, including that she as soon as discovered her sons “barely aware and vomiting.”
Kate Doe, mom of Jane Doe 4, instructed the court docket she first reported O’Connor to authorities in 2021 and took steps to maintain her daughter away from her, together with touring out of the world to Tahoe and Sea Ranch
She additionally alleged O’Connor tried to ship her daughter an airplane ticket.
She mentioned her daughter later developed alcohol dependency points and started consuming at evening to sleep following publicity to O’Connor’s affect.
“She was taking weekly drink orders for these youngsters. She inspired and managed intercourse acts. Our daughter was solely 14 years previous.
She was quiet harmless. Earlier than encounter with Shannon, she was candy, foolish and stuffed with pleasure,” Kate Doe mentioned.
The primary sufferer influence assertion of the day got here from Jane Doe 4, now 20, who described lasting emotional harm.
“It’s past me. I can’t comprehend how somebody may do ths. This represents who you’re at your core,” she mentioned. “For me what occurred took away som manny completely happy elements of who I used to be.”
The sentencing listening to, overseen by Decide Elizabeth Peterson, started Tuesday and is predicted to last as long as three days, with the ultimate sentence scheduled to be imposed on Might 28.
Further sufferer influence statements are anticipated when the listening to resumes Wednesday morning.
O’Connor was discovered responsible in March on 48 felony counts, together with extra misdemeanors together with youngster endangerment and furnishing alcohol to minors.
She has been held in county jail since October 2021 after her arrest close to Boise, Idaho.|
Prosecutors say she now faces greater than 30 years in jail.
