A Bothell woman was sentenced to more than a decade in prison Wednesday for joining a convicted child molester in the sexual mistreatment of three elementary school-aged girls.
Florena Aurelia Romero, 22, wept and said that she had not fully appreciated the nature of her crimes until after being locked up at the Snohomish County Jail awaiting sentencing.
It’s there, Romero alleged, that she became the victim of a sexual assault by a corrections officer.
Everett police confirm they have been investigating allegations of sexual misconduct made against a corrections officer by a female inmate. There have been no arrests.
If Romero was hoping her sex assault claim would earn her sympathy from the judge, she was mistaken.
Superior Court Judge Michael Downes made no comment about the allegation. Instead, he said Romero’s sentence needed to reflect the conduct she committed in August with her then-boyfriend, registered sex offender Jamie Lloyd Wallin, 32, of Everett.
The judge said evidence showed Romero had showed no surprise, resistance or reluctance engaging in sex with Wallin in front of the girls, ages 7, 9 and 11.
The children were molested and also photographed nude during the incident.
“Your behavior was despicable,” Downes told Romero.
Wallin’s sentence was a foregone conclusion. Downes sentenced him to life in prison without release – the mandatory punishment because of a prior child molestation conviction.
“Mr. Wallin, your conduct is nothing less than a scourge on our community,” Downes said. “You are a predator. You prey on our children and society will not put up with it.”
Jurors found Wallin guilty of 11 charges, including three counts of first-degree child molestation.
Romero was convicted of eight counts, including sexual exploitation of minors and communicating with minors for immoral purposes.
The girls did not speak in court. Instead, they asked a victim advocate to tell the judge they held Romero responsible because she had violated their trust.
“They want you to know they are afraid she will do this to other little girls,” advocate Kari King told Downes.
Reporter Scott North: 425-339-3431 or north@heraldnet.com.
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