Los Gatos mom sentenced to nearly 36 years for hosting drunken teen sex parties: 'I am ashamed'
LOS GATOS, Calif. -- Shannon O'Connor, a Los Gatos mother convicted for hosting drunken sex parties involving teenagers, has received the maximum sentence. She apologized to the victims and their families following several days of their emotional statements, detailing profound, lasting impacts.
A judge sentenced O'Connor on Thursday to 35 years and 10 months in prison after several days of emotional testimony from victims in the case.
Shannon O'Connor addressed the court for the first time on the third day of sentencing hearings.
"My actions are the cause for your pain and I am ashamed," she said. "And I face every day knowing that I was the cause."
"I am not sorry for myself, I am sorry for all of you and what I put you through," O'Connor also said. "But as I look at you all today, I hope you can find some comfort knowing that I have been punished and will continue to be for years to come."
PREVIOUS: Victim statements heard in sentencing hearings for Los Gatos mom convicted for teen sex parties
Three additional statements were presented Thursday before sentencing, following eight victim impact statements on Wednesday and several others on Tuesday.
The mom of victims identified as Jane Doe 8 and 9 said, "When people call you a monster, pedophile, rapist, they had it right. You preyed upon my daughter by supplying her alcohol, enticing sexual situation, and pushing her when she was not in a place to consent."
The young women and their families have called for the maximum sentence after O'Connor's felony convictions, citing what they described as a profound and lasting impact on their lives.
Prosecutors say O'Connor hosted parties for her teenage son, in which she encouraged teens to drink and engage in sexual activity, at times facilitating those interactions by providing condoms.
Victims have also said O'Connor messaged them after parties, prying into their personal lives and harassing them.
Legal analyst Steven Clark said he does not expect the judge to impose a sentence exceeding 50 years, despite calls from victims for the maximum penalty.
"Because there are so many victims in this case that in it took place over such a long period of time. How could this behavior have gone unnoticed for such a long time in the community of Los Gatos is a big question that people want answered," Clark said.
The district attorney is also expected to speak following the sentencing.
Here's what happened the previous days:
Wednesday
O'Connor appeared in court again Wednesday, facing the young women and families as they read statements about how their lives were affected by parties she hosted at her home.
Eight additional victim impact statements were read.
The statements delivered in court were often emotional, with many speakers in tears as they addressed O'Connor directly.
One of them, identified in court as "Rylan Doe," said she met O'Connor when she was 11 years old and recently found a suicide note in her childhood bedroom that included O'Connor's name.
"That is the impact you had on my life," she said.
Another victim, identified as Jane Doe 12, said, "I wish I could say that every memory with you has been healed with time, but I still find myself crying myself to sleep over the way that you took complete advantage of me."
A third victim, Jane Doe 7, chose to reveal her first name during her statement as what she described as an act of empowerment.
"I refuse to let her live in my head any longer. I refuse to let these repercussions consume me, and I refuse to be a victim of hers," she said. "She may have taken my voice away when I was just a little kid, but she has now created a platform for it."
Another victim, Jane Doe 5, said, "Shannon O'Connor held me prisoner for almost six years. It's her turn to serve a very long sentence in jail."
Tuesday
On Tuesday, survivors delivered emotional testimony in court.
Four of six statements came from a victim identified as Jane Doe 4 and her family.
In her statement, Jane Doe 4 said, "The trauma shattered parts of me and every day I wake up, I'm rebuilding what you broke."
Her family described the lasting impact of the abuse, including her 35-day stay in an inpatient treatment center to address addiction, depression and anxiety.
Her stepmother emphasized her daughter's resilience, telling O'Connor that she could not take away her daughter's qualities or strength.
"I want you to live with the knowledge that you did not ruin her life," she said.
