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Sitter's husband guilty of sex abuse

Without physical evidence, jurors rely on the young victim's testimony.

By JOSE CARDENAS
Published April 6, 2007

CLEARWATER - A Palm Harbor man faces life in prison when he's sentenced in May for molesting an 8-year-girl in his home three years ago.

A jury found Kenneth Ahrens, 46, guilty of capital sexual battery late Wednesday after a two-day trial in Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court.

Prosecutors called the crime an "ultimate betrayal" because the victim was cared for after school by Ahrens' wife along with their own young daughter, who regularly undergoes kidney dialysis treatments.

Because prosecutors presented no physical evidence, the jury appeared to have found Ahrens guilty on the strength of testimony from the victim, who is now almost 11.

"Certainly, a victim that is mature enough and credible enough to testify in front of the jury ... is also evidence," said Assistant State Attorney Phil Matthey. "It was rewarding that the jury also believed her."

Senior Assistant Public Defender Greg Williams said Ahrens would appeal.

"We didn't feel there was enough evidence to convict him," Williams said. "There was no physical evidence.

Ahrens worked at a car rental company. Prosecutors accused him of molesting the girl at least twice between January and June 2004.

Prosecutors said Ahrens told the girl not to say anything, but she told her father in October 2004. Her father had been telling her his own story of confronting danger as a child when the girl made an odd remark about Ahrens.

Matthey told jurors there was no physical evidence because the crime was reported months after it happened.

But he said the simple language the girl used in describing things an 8-year-old girl normally wouldn't know was evidence of her credibility.

Williams pointed out some details in the girl's story had changed.

He said the girl could have gained her knowledge of sexual subjects from an adult magazine and from having showered with her father.

Williams pointed out that neither Ahrens' wife nor their sick daughter - who was always with the victim when not receiving dialysis - had seen anything unusual.

"We are disappointed in the verdict," Williams said.

[Last modified April 5, 2007, 23:39:51]