Authorities say a stepfather and mother are facing sexual assault charges on their 12-year-old daughter, who may have suffered abuse for years.
Yesterday Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey formally charged Kevin Carothers, 35, with sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust and aggravated incest, both felonies. The girl's mother, Theresa Carothers, 38, had been on the run but was taken into custody Wednesday in Lakewood, Colo. She is suspected of taking part in the assaults.
The girl reportedly told authorities that Kevin began inappropriately touching her in 2009, ordering her not to tell anyone. The incidents escalated to rape shortly after she began school that fall.
In an arrest affidavit, the victim says that Kevin pushed her onto the bed and ripped off her pajamas before sexually assaulting her.
In December of 2009, Kevin, Theresa and the victim moved into Kevin's parents house and she says that's when her mother joined in on the assaults.
Kevin and Theresa also allegedly traded photographs of the victim while sending each other lewd texts about sexual acts they were planning to force on her.
According to the Denver Post, Kevin has been a registered sex offender since 1997 when he pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault on a child and served prison time.
"I know that these allegations are very disturbing," Denver District Attorney spokeswoman Lynn Kimbrough told 9News. "Sexual assault on a child is very disturbing in and of itself, but when the allegations involve the victim's mother, I know people will think 'Oh my God, how? A normal person doesn't think that way.'"
The sexual assaults were discovered when the victim was able to tell a grandmother about them.
Kevin is being held in Denver Jail on a $100,000 bond. Theresa is being held in Jefferson County.