Sitter accused of lewd acts with kids in her care
Authorities say the 20-year-old Riverview woman also served alcohol to three children in her care.
By LETITIA STEIN
Published June 5, 2005
TAMPA - A 20-year-old babysitter had an 11-year-old boy use a sex toy on her, fondled him and spiked the sodas of children in her care with Southern Comfort liquor, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies arrested Charity Sato of 6704 Riverview Drive, Riverview, early Saturday morning on five felony charges of lewd or lascivious conduct, and misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a child and battery. She was held at the Orient Road Jail without bail.
The Sheriff's Office withheld the names of children involved - an 11-year-old boy, his 10-year-old sister and a 10-year-old male neighbor - due to their ages.
The babysitter's mother, Patricia Sato, defended her daughter's innocence.
"I don't think she's capable of doing something like that," said Patricia Sato, 47.
But according to an arrest affidavit, Charity Sato touched the 11-year-old inappropriately, and had the boy use a sex toy on her two times over a period of 21/2 weeks ending in late May.
Authorities also said the babysitter mixed Southern Comfort into the drinks of the three children and plied children with Jose Cuervo tequila and beer on different occasions.
The arrest affidavit says Sato admitted to the crimes.
In addition, the authorities have accused her of battery involving one of the children.
The allegations came to their attention after the 10-year-old neighbor told his parents, said Debbie Carter, spokeswoman for the Sheriff's Office.
"I don't think this situation is as bad as it looks, except for the fact that she did give them something to drink," Patricia Sato said. "If (the crimes) were because of the alcohol, let's get to the source of who gave it to her."
The Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the alcohol's origin, Carter said. Charity Sato is too young to purchase alcohol.
Until recently, Charity Sato lived with her mother in a gray trailer with an American flag at the front door. Her bedroom remains untouched, with dozens of teddy bears and figures neatly displayed on bookcases and the walls.
About two months ago, Charity Sato moved into a Riverview apartment with a family to babysit full time, earning $100 every two weeks, her mother said.
Charity Sato has battled weight problems and severe depression, according to her mother, adding that her daughter was abused as a child.
Still, Charity Sato loved children and studied child care at East Bay High School. Poetry and drawing were her outlets, her mother said.
Shortly after her 18th birthday, Charity Sato was arrested on burglary and larceny charges. State records show she pleaded guilty and and was sentenced to pay restitution and three years' probation.
Her mother explained that Charity fell in with a bad crowd long enough to get in trouble.
"She feels like her life is all screwed up," said Patricia Sato. "I guess things just started spiraling downwards."
--Letitia Stein can be reached at 661-2443 or lstein@sptimes.com