SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – A Sioux Falls man will continue his probation until an upcoming court date in about three months. This follows Wednesday’s court order for psycho-sexual evaluations for Edgar Aaron Messenger.
The father of the victims spoke with Dakota News Now to explain his frustrations.
He says it was a nightmare that any parent hopes never happens.
Dakota News Now is keeping this father’s identity private to not identify his children.
“It was probably three and a half, four years ago,” the father said.
It popped up in conversation, his daughter telling her dad she and her sister had been sexually abused by a family friend, who babysat them occasionally.
“Came out, I reported it to Child’s Voice. I brought my daughter back immediately from a vacation,” he explained.
The information was gathered and presented in court. It was alleged that Edgar Aaron Messenger violated the girls, one of them for several years.
“They said that it was a very big concern, and they said that they had enough to get this individual,” the father said.
Charges were filed against Messenger.
“Went from two first-degree Rape charges and Sexual Contact with a Child Under 10 to a plea deal,” the father said.
Messenger agreed to a deal, pleading “no contest” to one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and a count of Abuse or Cruelty to a Minor.
The process is gut-wrenching for the family.
Wiping away tears in court, they wondered: Why is there an offer of a plea deal?
“My babies. I mean, I’d do anything for him,” the father expressed.
Dakota News Now asked Marsy’s Law victim advocate Holly Wethor to review the initial charges.
She praises the parents for taking this hard road with the kids.
“Some people are scared, so I think it takes a strong parent who’s not afraid of the system and not scared of the system and wants to go through that. And I mean more power to the parents,” Wethor said.
The judge is ordering a psycho-sexual and other mental health evaluations for Messenger. The judge will also review the victims’ family written statements as part of a pre-sentence evaluation.
Wethor asked about ongoing mental health for Messenger.
“What education and what mental health level are they getting at the same aspects to not reoffend?” Wethor said.
The girls continue therapy and have requested restitution to cover the expenses. They fear that at the next court date, Messenger will go free on parole.
“Daddy did everything he could, and he can’t make the judge do this, and he can’t make the State’s Attorney do that, but he fought. Because you deserve justice,” the father expressed.
45-year-old Messenger is also ordered to have no contact with the victims and to expect to pay court costs.
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