Casper Woman Accused of Sexually Abusing, Grooming Girl to Perform Sex Acts
A woman accused of sexually abusing a young girl in an effort to groom her to perform sex acts denied six felony charges brought against her Thursday in Natrona County District Court.
Sonya Smiley, 50, pleaded not guilty to five counts of third-degree sexual abuse of a minor and one count of accessory to second-degree sexual abuse of a minor before the fact.
She could face up to 95 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
Her husband, 46-year-old Lenard Smiley, pleaded not guilty to eight charges -- four counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor, three counts of third-degree sexual abuse of a minor and one misdemeanor count of false imprisonment -- at his arraignment last week.
Lenard Smiley is a registered sex offender, having been convicted of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor in Alaska in 2001.
He could face up to 126 years in prison if convicted on all counts.
Court documents say a victim's parents told police in November that family friends -- the Smileys -- had sexually abused their daughter when the victim stayed with them on and off from May 2015 through May 2016.
The victim's family and the Smileys met through a group that recreates pre-17th century European History, according to the affidavit. The girl reportedly knew Lenard Smiley was a convicted sex offender, but he would tell people that Alaska police framed him and the charges were false.
The Smileys allegedly bought the victim gifts and invited her to stay with them. After several months, the Smileys reportedly told her that since they were doing all those nice things for her, she needed to do things for them.
According to charging documents, the Smileys told the victim to perform sex acts that were unbearably painful. At one point, she reportedly passed out and had to be taken to a hospital.
After interviewing the first victim, investigators spoke with another teenage victim who said Smiley made her model underwear and swimsuits.
The Smileys also allegedly made the victim wear a type of metal collar commonly used in sadomasochistic sex acts.
Court documents say the victim told police that the Smileys locked her inside the house at one point and would not let her call home.
An investigator writes in the affidavit that the actions were all part of "the grooming process," which involves a sex offender gaining access to and control over child victims.
If effective, grooming can decrease the likelihood of the victim reporting abuse and gives the offender further opportunities to sexually abuse the victim, the detective wrote.
Officers arrested the Smileys in December.
Sonya Smiley allegedly told detectives she saw Lenard Smiley perform sex acts with the victim at least four times. She reportedly blamed the victim.
She is being held on $100,000 bond.