Mother-of-three admits sexually abusing the autistic 13-year-old son of her life-long friend



A mother-of-three has been jailed for sexually assaulting an autistic 13-year-old boy who was the son of a life-long friend.



Mandy Thibodeau, 35, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison with four to serve and the rest suspended for six years of probation for twice sexually assaulting the mentally disabled boy.



Thibodeau, of Farmington, Maine, pleaded guilty to two counts of gross sexual assault in June, where a conviction for each crime carries up to 30 years in prison.

Jailed: Mandy Thibodeau, 35, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison with four to serve and the rest suspended for six years of probation for twice sexually assaulting a mentally disabled 13-year-old boy

The case was set to go to trial in June but Thibodeau pleaded guilty with a proposed sentencing agreement of 10 years in prison with four years to be served.

She was arrested last September after the boy confided in his sister about the sexual assaults, which happened eight days apart, reported the Franklin Sun Journal.

Guilty: Thibodeau was arrested last September after the boy told his sister about the assaults

The victim has Asperger’s Syndrome which causes him to struggle with routine tasks and he finds it difficult to communicate, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Robbins said.



The victim and his family have been seriously affected by the assaults with the boy having suicidal thoughts and blaming himself for the abuse, the court heard.



Thibodeau and the boy’s mother had been friends for 22 years after meeting at junior high school, the court heard.



The boy’s mother had welcomed her old friend back into her life because Thibodeau had gone through a difficult time, Robbins said.



Thibodeau was herself sexually assaulted aged 7 and 13, her lawyer said, and was badly beaten up by a partner several years ago.



Her lawyer said that this didn’t excuse what she did but it explains why she was ‘such a mess when she did this.’



Thibodeau tearfully apologized to the boy's mother in court.



'I know it is really hurting them,' she said through tears. 'I am just very, very sorry to bring a little boy into this predicament. I can't say sorry enough.'



According to Thibodeau’s Facebook page, she has three children, aged between 10 and 16.

Devastating: The Franklin Superior Court heard how the boy had suffered since the abuse, having suicidal thoughts and blaming himself for the assaults

On October 15 2010, she posted: ‘MY world WAS turned up side down for about 3 yrs til one night the person that was supposed to love and protect me beat the crap out of me!!.

'I met a real good man and will do anything for anyone. He actuly works!. my life jus made a BIG 360. the jerk that cuased me to lose everything I had is now in jail and still gettin him self in trouble lol. he needs to rot in jail, he is no good for anyone not even him self! [sic]’#