ST. GEORGE – A St. George woman was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 5th District Court Thursday for offenses related to sexual exploitation and unlawful sexual activity with of a minor.
Jaime Renee Tactay, 37, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor and related offenses in October. Tactay was initially facing sundry charges, but through a plea deal the charges were reduced to a total of five spread across two cases related to her relationship with the victim, who was identified as a 15-year-old boy.
An initial sentencing recommendation resulting from a presentencing investigation advised that Judge John Walton should send Tactay to jail for a year and that she should then be under supervised probation. However, the state argued that because Tactay had shown a disregard for court orders and had violated a protective order, she needed to be sent to prison.
Tactay was originally arrested in June after police were made aware of her alleged sexual relationship with the victim. She was able to make bail and was released from custody, and a protective order was put in place prohibiting her from coming in contact with the victim. Despite this, Tactay and the victim reestablished contact in August and engaged in additional sexual encounters. She was subsequently arrested and held without bail on Walton’s orders.
Through the plea deal, Tactay pleaded guilty to a second-degree felony count of sexual exploitation of a minor, which can carry a 5 to 15-year prison term, and a third-degree felony count of unlawful sexual activity with a minor between 14-15 years old, which carries a prison term of up to 5 years. In the second case, she pleaded guilty to two additional third-degree felony counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor and a class-A misdemeanor for violating the protective order, which has a zero to 1-year jail term.
Deputy Washington County Attorney Ryan Shaum asked the court to sentence Tactay to the statutory terms attached to the offenses in each case. Time for charges within each case would be served concurrently, with the two cases served back-to-back, making for a potential prison sentence of 20 years.
“This is her first offense,” Michael Lastowski, Tactay’s lawyer, said.
He added he was not making light of the crimes that had taken place, yet said he felt prison was too harsh for someone’s first foray into the criminal justice system.
“I’m not saying what she’s done is not reprehensible, is not bad,” he said. “However, to send someone to prison on a first offense doesn’t make sense to me.”
Tactay was allowed to address the court and was very emotional as she spoke.
“I’m just sorry for everything,” she said.
Tactay added she was sorry for what she had done to the victim as well as her own family.
“It’s not fair to any of them,” she said.
The victim’s mother was also allowed to speak to the court, as well. She said the encounters with Tactay had left her son with a twisted sense of reality. It is was something he may not be able to completely understand for many years to come, she said.
“You cannot restore his innocence,” the victim’s mother said as she addressed Tactay.
She said the entire situation has taken an emotional toll on her son. His health, education and other relationships have also been negatively impacted because of Tactay’s actions, she said.
“Consider the life-altering nature of what has happened,” she said.
From the state’s standpoint, the whole case is a terrible one, Shaum said. The state may have been fine with the initial sentencing recommendations if Tactay hadn’t gone after the boy a second time, he said. Such actions made it evident to the prosecution that Tactay was still a potential threat to the victim and the community.
Walton agreed and sentenced Tactay according to the state’s recommendation. Though there is a potential that Tactay may be released earlier depending on the circumstances, the maximum time she could serve in prison is 20 years. Tactay was also ordered to pay for the victim’s counseling.
“This is a tragic case,” Walton said.
The victim’s mother requested not to be named in order to safeguard the identity of her son.
Related posts
- Woman pleads guilty to unlawful sexual activity with minor
- 36-year-old woman charged for sex with teen, again
- Woman faces 10 felony counts for sex with minor, child porn
- Man tries to evade police after alleged sexual assaults
- Grandparent alert leads to arrest of 22-year-old for sex with a minor
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I bet a guy wouldn’t haven’t gotten this kind of sentence, particularly one who enjoys a position in church. Just look to those small towns to the east and you’ll clearly understand.
I can tell you a guy wouldn’t even be charged. I tried for two years to get someone arrested I knew was molesting a minor and the police wouldn’t do anything.
Yes, this is the land of double-standards, male/female, mormon/non-mormon. Anyone who can’t see that has his head buried very deep.
How the dominoes fall in Southwest Utah. Just wow. She gets 20 years. What role did she play in the church? None I guess. Did she screw up? … yes she did. Were the “victim’s” buddies giving him high fives? … yes they were. 20 years. What are the child rapists an hour away from here getting? NOTHING. A blind eye is turned because they are reading from the same stupid book. Go ahead and google her. She has tatoos. She must not be drinking the koolaid. Meanwhile a mother bakes her kid in the car, and gets a fundraiser. Hypocrisy is wonderful.
Ed. ellipses.
Scum bag. She’s in a better place now.
Just love how you all are assuming she was even someone “in the church.” Typical response. Did ya’ll miss the point where AFTER being arrested the first time, AND told to stay away from the kid, she RECONNECTED with the kid and proceeded to bang away? Kind of shows some major stupidity and/or defiance on her part, don’tchya think? Not to worry, she’ll be out sooner than that and possibly setting her sights on someone else.
Ah, yet again the religious bigot set chimes in with more ignorant cheap shots at those darn Mormons. “Ebola is killing thousands, the Mormons are behind it.” “The economy sucks, the Mormons caused it.” “Islamic militants are beheading people in the middle east, why didn’t the Mormons stop them?” “The Mormons and the Illuminati control EVERYTHING in the world dude, you’re just not seeing it!”
After reading countless posts from these chuckleheads, it’s clear that either they were once Mormons and were excommunicated, or they had an “epiphany” and left of their own volition Perhaps they didn’t get the job/girlfriend/boyfriend/pony/puppy they wanted and clearly, that was the fault of the LDS church. Maybe the anger is due to the alcohol content in Utah beer that just doesn’t give them the same buzz, and of course, the “Zion Curtain” is responsible. Geez
Look folks, no one is doubting that there are occasions when people can be judgmental jerks, and I’m certainly no apologist for the LDS church. But keep in mind there are plenty of jerks in every religion. There’s also plenty of them that fit that category who are atheists and environmentalists. If, and that’s a big “if” and until you can bring cogent facts and examples OTHER THAN your own sob stories of perceived injustice to back your tenuous assertions that the LDS community is somehow responsible for all the misery you and the other citizens of Utah seem to be enduring at the hands of this “repressive” State and community (I assume you’re not wearing a Burka yet), why not put a pin in the anti-Mormon diatribes and maybe take up a hobby OTHER than looking for news stories that in your mind confirm your private biases and hatred of the Mormons. Go read some more Nietzsche, listen to some Insane Clown Posse or Perry Como. Take a walk among the beauty nature has to offer in our local National Park (you’ll have to get over the “Zion” thing though or that may taint your experience).
JUNIUS, Chill out. Don’t you know by now that most comments by the ‘look at me crowd’ don’t have puppies at home to kick around, So they try to get your goat? Pay them no mind. If the community was made up of >60% of LGBT freaks instead of follower’s of God’s son, they would attack them the same way.
They just have to hate anything/ something and show their stupidity. You expect them to get out to the local National Parks and enjoy life? Are you nuts? It’s so far away for them. They want it delivered to their front door.
Another church apologist speaks. The “plenty of jerks in other religions. ” is the giveaway, as if that justifies the bias, prejudice and all wrong doing that exists within your own rank and file. You are sheep to do nothing about your own inconsistencies other than point your finger at others and waggle your tongue about them.
I would like to go walking, BUT am afraid the first four commenter’s will throw rocks at my back like their friend did to a guy walking his dog awhile back in La Verkin.
I’d like to take my dog for a walk, but I’m afraid some of those local Dixie boys might molest it.
15 year old kid and 37 year old lady?
http://img.pandawhale.com/85473-south-park-NICE-meme-fi0v.png
This woman just set back all the advancements the “cougar” movement has achieved. I mean…come on now…..14-15 year old boy?!?!?! Since when did they lower the standards?!?!?! Cougars must come and stand together and revolt!!
I blame the Mormons for your useless dribble
I blame the Mormons for global warming
I blame the Mormons for 8 yrs of Obama
I blame the Mormons for cheap toilet paper
I blame the Mormons for Wal Mart
I blame the Mormons and their inbreeding with passing on the bald gene. Notice how many young men are balding at an early age? I also blame them for looking like the Pillsbury Dough Boy by the time they’re 40.
Blame them for the sagging breasts. Notice how many get breast augmentations?
Yup…the saggy breasts syndrome is in their genes too. And don’t forget the flat butt, As well as their atrocious hair do’s. Who told them that lump on the back of their head looked good.
How old was good ol’ Joe Smith’s wife again?
That made him prophet, just like Like ’em Young.
If I can tell you something, no one cares to hear about your lament on Mormons. You would find yourself better in the hands of your Anti-this, or anti-that buddies, if you can find any. Then you can meet together, spew out your venom to one another, and never worry again about bringing others down to your level of standards. I can tell you this, that the common folks by and large, are here to gain knowledge and real information.
I think that kid know exactly what the … was going on. His mom acts like he is five. I’m not saying what she did wasn’t wrong but I believe both off them know it was wrong. He was happy that an older women was into him. I really don’t think he needs consueling. Sooner or later he was going rTo get put in the same situation with a girl his own age. His mom needs to let him grown the … up.
Ed. ellipsis
His mom probably acts like she is five. It seems a lot of moms in these parts quit developing mentally past the age of 15. Maybe that’s why cougar thought she was cougar hunter’s equal. In her mind, she was also 15.
What did you say.? LOL try reading your comments before hitting the send button
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that he feels like he is totally in love with her. So he also has to get over losing the love of his life before he can even begin to start to get better. What a mess.
Seems like there are a few victims of this situation. There is the wreckage left on both families. Must be hard living far away from your son while this is going on.
Imagine if had gotten her pregs.
Thank you Victim’s Dad for putting the proper perspective on this sad story. Yes, it is a mess. It’s also a shame that sarcastic individuals feel they have to make such insensitive and hurtful comments. Hope your son recovers from the trauma and that you and your family find peace and healing.
Where were these boy victims’ dads when that young girl in Santa Clara was being assaulted in Santa Clara by older boys?
I read “VICTIMS DAD” comments and LOL’d hard 🙂 TOO FUNNY
I’m still laughing lol.!
The same thing happened to my son. You think its frick’in cool until it happens to your own son. Child protective services put my son in dentition (kid jail) then into foster care until she moved. He has never been the same. The … got 16 months in jail. The same amount of time my son was taken from my home. It destroyed my family. He’s in his twenty’s now and not coping with life. I worry about him.
Ed. ellipsis.
Get him out of that damaging church that makes him feel ashamed of himself.
The Cougar Hunter is probably high fiving his friends. They probably are sharing their stories of cougar hunting conquests. But then, there are a lot of cougars around St George who act and dress as if they are trying to impress high school boys. They need to seriously grow up and act like adults.