CASE OF INTEREST

Date: April 16, 2004

Case: People v. Christopher Todd Hettiger, Case Number 02F09970

Contact: Valerie Brown, Deputy District Attorney
Special Assault & Child Abuse Unit
Telephone: 916-874-4638

District Attorney Jan Scully announced that Christopher Todd Hettiger, age 37, was sentenced today by Judge Raymond Cadei to two consecutive terms of 15 years to life for molesting two young boys he was supposed to be mentoring. On February 20, 2004, a jury found Hettiger guilty of 19 counts of child molestation that included masturbation, oral copulation and digital penetration occurring from 1996 through 2002.

Both victims were introduced to Mr. Hettiger for the purpose of receiving guidance and friendship from a male role model inasmuch as their fathers were not involved in their lives. The first victim was 8 years old when he was matched with Hettiger through the Big Brother / Big Sister Program. Now 19, he testified at trial regarding several acts of molestation by the defendant when he was between 11 and 13 years old.

The second victim was 12 years old when he met Hettiger through the Church of Latter Day Saints where they both attended services and Hettiger taught Sunday School. Hettiger was asked to mentor the victim and his older brother as their mother was struggling to raise them alone. Now 14 years old, the second victim testified that Hettiger began molesting him almost immediately after the first time they spent the night at Hettiger's home. Over the following year, the defendant committed sexual offenses against the child virtually every time his mother left him in Hettiger's care.

Deputy District Attorney Valerie Brown stated that "the emotional pain and personal losses suffered by both boys as a result of Hettiger's actions cannot be overstated. The life sentences are appropriate in light of the calculated manner in which he garnered and subsequently betrayed their trust and devotion.

Back to Press Releases Index