A local woman was sentenced to life in prison for failing to protect her daughter from sexual abuse.
Marilyn D. Natasha Satterwhite was found guilty at the end of a June jury trial and faced Judge Bert Rice for sentencing Wednesday.
Satterwhite was given two consecutive life terms for the charges of first-degree sodomy and first-degree sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12.
“It is our duty to protect our children,” Rice told Satterwhite during the sentencing. “You are the mother of this child, and a jury of your peers has determined you did not protect your daughter.”
District Attorney Stephen Billy, who prosecuted the case asked for the maximum sentence allowed by law be imposed.
“That would be life on both counts,” Billy said.
Defense attorney Larry Moore asked for a split sentence with a maximum of 48 months prison time in the case; however, Rice disagreed.
Before a sentence was imposed, Satterwhite tearfully said, “I am an addict, but that is all I am. This is wrong. I love all my kids and I wouldn’t hurt them for anything. This ain’t right.”
Because of Satterwhite’s previous convictions, Rice sentenced to the maximum under law.
“You have been to prison before,” Rice said. “And you are going again.”
Moore made a verbal order of appeal in the case.