Wiccan Sentenced to Life in Prison For Sex Crimes
COVINGTON -- A former Folsom man found guilty last month of a slew of sexual crimes against two young children was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday, and his co-defendant is facing 25 years in prison.
A jury found Burt Stockstill, formerly of Folsom but now living in Olympia, Wash., and his former roommate, Michelle C. Littlefield, of 1110 Tantella Ranch Road, guilty after Littlefield allowed her children, who were both under the age of 6 at the time, to be molested and raped by Stockstill, who authorities say called himself a witch.
It took a jury about six hours last month to convict the roommates on molestation, cruelty and rape charges.
Littlefield faced up to 50 years in prison for her conviction of molestation and cruelty of a juvenile. She was acquitted on aggravated rape charges, but Judge Rusty Knight sentenced her to 15 years for each molestation charge and another 10 years for the cruelty to juveniles charges.
Stockstill faced the death penalty or life in prison for the aggravated rape charge, and Knight sentenced him to life in prison for that charge and gave him the maximum sentence of 15 years for the molestation charges and 10 years for the cruelty to juveniles charges.
In what prosecutors called a bizarre case, Littlefield allowed her children, now 6 and 9, to be raped and abused by her roommate, Stockstill. At the time of the trial Joe Tosterud with the District Attorney's Office said Stockstill claimed he was a witch, made the children eat feces and raped the youngsters.
During testimony, Stockstill admitted he practiced a form of witchcraft called Wicca and had changed his name to Eion Woodcraft. He has since reverted to Christianity, he said.
But despite their religious beliefs, a 12-person jury did not think it was acceptable for Littlefield to allow Stockstill to rape, molest and perform other acts of cruelty on her young children, said District Attorney spokesperson Bart Pepperman. And District Attorney Walter Reed recommended a mandatory life sentence.
"This disgusting and violent act committed upon children is especially repulsive to the community. They are the type of victims who cannot defend themselves," said Reed.
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Posted by Editor at June 21, 2005 11:37 AM
