Whitney M. Woodworth

Statesman Journal

A 43-year-old Marion County woman was sentenced to 14 months in prison Friday after she pleaded guilty to sex crimes involving two teenage boys.

Beth Ann Van Veen of Sublimity pleaded guilty to third-degree rape, two counts of third-degree sodomy and four counts of contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor. According to court records, Van Veen admitted to several sexual encounters with the minors, one of whom was under the age of 16 at the time, during a period of four years.

According to court documents, the Marion County Sheriff's Office received an anonymous letter in December 2014 that alleged Van Veen was having sex with middle school and high school-aged boys.

An investigation revealed that sexual contact between Van Veen and one of her victims began when he was about 14 years old. He described being depressed and lonely when the contact began, and eventually became disturbed and disgusted with himself. Another teen admitted to having sex with Van Veen.

She was arrested and originally charged with 10 counts of third-degree rape, five counts of third-degree sodomy and five counts of contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor

According to court documents, Van Veen initially denied the claims and said the teens made them "to hurt" her.

During her sentencing hearing in Marion County Circuit Court, Van Veen's defense attorney Walter Todd said she belonged in treatment, not in prison. Her sexual encounters with minors took place when she was experiencing mental health issues and alcohol abuse.

A few months after her arrest in December 2015, her release was revoked after she allegedly tried to talk to a witness in the case, according to court records.

Marion County woman accused of sex crimes involving minors

The witness told prosecutors Van Veen approached her in a store, smelling of alcohol and appearing intoxicated.

She was taken back to jail and held on $1 million bond.

The 72 days she spent in jail did not go well. She contracted a MRSA infection, and the other inmates did not like the charges she was brought in on, Todd said.

When Todd became her attorney, he said she was "embarrassed, ashamed and closed down."

Since her arrest, she has undergone alcohol and psychological treatment and has admitted to her wrongdoings, he said. Because of her improvement and remorse, Van Van should be allowed to only serve probation, Todd said, adding that even a doctor's evaluation stated "incarceration is not for her."

Deputy District Attorney Katie Suver questioned the double standard of Van Veen possibly only serving probation. A man brought in on similar charges would serve prison time, she said. To treat the crime as less severe because the offender is a woman is an insult to her victims.

"It wasn't just a single incident," Suver said. "The defendant is the person responsible for all of her behavior."

Suver requested 14 months in prison followed by three years and 10 months of post-prison supervision.

Van Veen spoke before Judge Channing Bennett before he delivered the sentence.

"I don't really have an excuse for what I've done," she tearfully said. "I was sad, lonely and I made huge mistakes."

Bennett acknowledged the double standard some may have when considering a female sex offender.

"While the behaviors of a teen boy and teen girl are different, the psychological impact is still there," he said. "It's extremely damaging to these young men."

Because there were multiple offenses and multiple victims, he said he could not let the sentence be limited to probation.

"I think prison is the appropriate response," Bennett said.

Email wmwoodwort@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-399-6884 or follow on Twitter @wmwoodworth

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