A former elementary school teacher was sentenced to 25 years in prison Friday for a sexual relationship he had with a 12-year-old student. The relationship involved months of text messages that the judge called “grooming.”
Kenne Worthen, 28, was found guilty on three charges including sexual conduct with a minor and attempted child molestation after he was arrested in April 2015. He pleaded guilty a year later.
Maricopa Superior Court Judge Michael Kemp said Worthen did admit responsibility when he pleaded guilty, but Kemp noted several aggravating factors in the case, including the breach of trust by the teacher at Longview Elementary and emotional harm to the victim.
Prosecutor Jennifer Carper asked for the maximum sentence of 27 years, citing Worthen’s months of contact with the girl. She also accused Worthen of violating the trust of the victim and her family as he was in an authority role.
“This is an adult man in a position of authority talking to the victim about not wanting her to feel guilty, about problems he was having with his wife,” Carper said. “He continued to manipulate her into thinking she was in a relationship with him.”
Carper said Worthen used his position as teacher to keep the girl after school and schedule private encounters with her in his classroom.
“This is an extreme violation of trust,” Carper said. “He was trying to coordinate times he would be alone with this little girl so he could sexually abuse her.”
Also speaking on behalf of the prosecution, the mother, grandmother and father of the girl described the damage the incident caused their family and the victim.
“My daughter was 11 years old at the time, and I’ve seen such a change in her,” said the victim’s father, who said he is a teacher himself. “There will be no normalcy for the rest of her life. All those first times we’ve all experienced as teens, she doesn’t get to.
Before the sentence was read, Worthen’s brother, sister and mother spoke on his behalf. They described a good brother, father and husband, and asked the judge to sentence him to 20 years in prison.
Worthen’s wife said the couple have two children and her husband was a strong father to his kids. She said the family is struggling in Worthen’s absence, and a shorter sentence would return him home sooner.
“I beg of you to be lenient with Kenne. I promise you he is a good man,” Worthen’s wife said. “We are really hurting in his absence. I feel inadequate to raise the children on my own.” (This statement is rather disturbing)
Worthen’s mother said several of her children and grandchildren were sexually abused and she related to what the family of the victim is experiencing.
Taking the stand after his family spoke, Worthen turned to the victim’s family and apologized tearfully for his crimes. He said he has tried to “make changes” in prison by teaching English and religion to other inmates.
“There’s a lot that I have to regret,” Worthen said. “The conversations, the acts that I did … I wish I could go back in time and tell myself all the things I know now. I’m glad I got arrested and had an opportunity to change. I tried to start making these changes.
“I knew it was immoral in 100 different ways, but one thing I was ignorant of was the impact it would have. I thought it wouldn’t hurt anyone else, just the victim and me. I told myself that lie and I did what I did.”
Defense attorney Kyle Reedy said a shorter sentence of 20 year was warranted by Worthen’s positive assessment and described the incident as isolated.
“This act was one day in his life,” Reedy said. “Is 27 years going to rehabilitate him or deter him from committing crimes more than 20 would? Absolutely not. He has accepted responsibility. He has good character, and he can be rehabilitated.”
