COURT HEARING: Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt sentenced to 4 to 30 years in prison

[Music] like that put in the Box okay [Music] show Med No cameras you just got still [Music] C you I have room for one more Med [Applause] [Music] here [Music] [Music] there's two more seat should I [Music] just [Music] all get we're still waiting for [Music] victim place if you haven't done so now please silence your phones [Music] to R yeah you know what CA [Music] me [Music] that's [Music] [Music] attorne [Music] [Music] [Music] here what that can't e that's about CL [Music] I think all [Music] right session John presiding you may be seated good morning ladies and gentlemen welcome to District Court we're here for sentencing in the matter of state of Utah versus Ruby Frankie Miss Frankie is here with Mr Winward Mr Clark and Mr sham are here for the state of Utah and we are ready to proceed with sentencing we are yes you Council the terms of the sentence were agreed to as part of the plea agreement correct that is correct there is a pre sentence investigation report in the matter I have reviewed that everyone has seen it yes what about restitution Council before we move on with other matters we'd like to leave that open at this time your honor um the I can get into that I might be more comfortable if we approach to get into that is there an agreement that restitution that uh we reserve that and for what period of time eight months is what we're anticipating but but I I haven't talked to to the defendants Council about that we haven't discussed that that your honor is there any objection no all right what's the state's position regarding sentencing your honor of the state I'll stand up the state respectfully requests that the court sentence Miss Frankie to consecutive prison terms for each of the four counts of aggravated child abuse this sentence was agreed to by Miss Frankie and her plea agreement and is also recommended by adult probation and PE she committed horrible acts of child abuse from May to August in 2023 Miss Frankie and her business partner held her two children ages 9 and 11 turning 12 in a concentration camp like setting the children were regularly denied food water beds to sleep in and virtually all forms of entertainment they were isolated from others and were hidden when people came to visit the house where the children and the defendants were staying the children were forced to do physical tasks like carrying loaded boxes up and down stairs and wall sits or sitting against a wall without a chair or stool for hours at a time they were also forced to do manual labor outdoors in the extreme summer heat at times without shoes or socks they were forced to stand outside on a cement patio in the summer heat for hours and even days at a time they were beaten and the 12-year-old was regularly bound hand in foot after he attempted to run away in mid July both children had extensive physical injuries from the abuse that required hospitalization when they were found the injuries from The Binding to the 12-year-old are particularly awful in addition to physical abuse the children were emotionally abused to the extent that each believed to some degree that they deserved what was being done to them had the older of the children not had the courage to run away and ask a neighbor to call the police Heaven only knows how much longer he could have survived in that situation after being caught Miss Frankie has shown considerable remorse as evidenced by agreeing to serve consecutive prison terms and being willing to cooperate with the State against Miss H Miss hildbrand however given the severity of the abuse she inflicted consecutive terms are appropriate in this case as the Court's aware section 763 401 lays out factors the court takes into account in determining whether consecutive or concurrent sentences should be imposed those factors are the gravity and circumstances of the offense the number of victims and the history character and rehabilitative needs of the defendant as agreed to in the plea agreement and as recommended by adult probation and parole consecutive sentences are appropriate this is due to the severity of the abuse to both victims it could be argued that Miss Frankie should receive a lesser sentence than Miss hilderbrand because of her remorse and willingness to cooperate with the state however the Board of Pardons and Parole will have broad latitude and will be able to take those facts into account when it determines how long each of the codefendants will remain incarcerated in conclusion we respectfully requested the court um go along with what was agreed to in the plea agreement and is recommended vital probation appro and impose consecutive sentences thank you anything else from the state no your aor Mr lward thank you your honor good morning in my few comments this morning and in the comments my client wishes to make in a few minutes we are not suggesting nor are we asking that the court deviate from the stipulated sentence contain in the written play agreement I want the court to know that through inspection and reflection Ruby Frankie has become a serious student of her own actions in the very early days of my involvement with Ruby she was somewhat defensive and she was still very much indoctrinated into a philosophy that was destructive fortunately Ry came to the Stark realization of The Heirs in her thinking patterns and subsequent actions to say that she was horrified by this realization would be to put it wildly I have marveled at how quickly Ruby abandoned her defensive stance and moveed toward her total acceptance of her actions and to her sentence today so far she has used her time in jail to unwrap the layers upon layers of Deceit and deception voed upon her over the last four years by an unscrupulous individual Ruby realizes that she still has work to do in shedding those thinking erors and to reestablish a better and correct pattern of thinking and behavior Ruby realizes that changing her thinking reestablishing relationships and healing are not simple or easy tasks however she is committing committed to doing that work I would like the court to know that Ruby Frankie is a delightful respectful and responsible person she is open to feedback and addressing the consequences of her actions headon and now ready to address your honor and accept your judgment thank you judge Walton thank you Miss Frankie has a statement she'd like to make she does thank you judge you don't have to bend down the okay thank you I would like to make a statement without any intent to change my stipulated sentence for the past four years I've chosen to follow counsel and guidance that has led me into a dark delusion my distorted version of reality went largely unchecked as I would isolate from anyone who challenged me I was led to believe that this world was an evil Place filled with cops who control hospitals that injure government agencies that brainwash church leaders who lie in lust husbands who refuse to protect and children who need abused my choice to believe and behave this paranoia culminated into criminal activity for which I stand before you today ready to take accountability jod Hill debrand was never my business partner nor was I ever employed by her I have never received wages from her or connections jod was employed as my son's counselor in 2019 and in 2020 I paid her to be my mentor it is important to me to demonstrate my REM moris and regret Without Blame I take full accountability for my choices and it is my preference that I serve a prison sentence thank you to the officers in Santa Clara and the Ivan City police Nick Helman Brian PFO Sai pikit Mike Pondo in tobler John Ward D Lewis and chief flowers you were the Angels who came and saved my children I especially want to thank detective J bate she plucked me out of a situation I didn't know how to get out of and the moment she handcuffed me was the moment I gained my freedom you were not the controlling ones I was thank you to the medical staff at Inner Mountain Hospital your skill tenderness and professionalism helped heal my children jod and I inflicted the injuries not the hospital thank you to DCFS the Children's Justice Center judge basil and other key adults you've gathered my children under your wing and offered them love compassion encouragement you were not the ones who were doing the brainwashing thank you to my Bishop Tom Hawks and my State president Jim Nelson for reminding me of the Lord's love for the lost so much pain and suffering would have been avoided had I followed and heed your Council I was the one who was deceived not you thank you to the Washington County prosecutor's office Ryan sham the legal assistant and Discovery clerks Eric Clark you exemplified to me how Justice and mercy are meant to coexist my charges are just they offer safety to my family accountability to the public and they did show Mercy to me thank you to my attorney Lamar Winward and his staff I would not be where I am today without them thank you to Randy Kester for your Limitless energy in healing my family my dear friends Pam and Roy I'm so sorry for letting you down because of your Association with me your innocence was called into question my mother-in-law father-in-law Kevin's family my cousins Aunts Uncles nieces nephews and neighbors you all saw the warning signs long before I did and you did what you could you wanted to help but I pushed you away my mother and father I have been ly wretched to you you have offered me unconditional love and for that I have offered you unconditional contempt my siblings and their spouses because of my decision to roll around in a pig sty I've drag your families through the mud in public yet when I desired to return as a prodigal sister unlike the prodigals brother in the Bible you sinked step with my parents and ran out to greet me Your Capacity to love is unprecedented Kevin my husband of more than 23 years you are the love of my life I'm so sorry to leave to you to finish what we both started together the ending of our marriage is a tragedy and you are wrapped around my heart in a notd I'll never be able to undo to my babies my six little chicks you are part of me I was the mama duck who was consistently waddling you to safety I can see now that over the past four years I was in a deep undercurrent that led us to Danger I would never have led you to Darkness knowingly I was so disoriented that I believed dark was light and right was wrong I would do anything in this world for you my willingness to sacrifice all for you was masterfully manipulated into something very ugly I took from you all that was soft and safe and good I took from you your mother how terrifying this must have been for you I will never stop crying for hurting your tender Souls you are you so precious to me I'm sorry my choice to live in fear of the world has created a great vulnerability and a blind spot for me where I have broken hearts and I've caused people to suffer and I have betrayed sacred trust watching my community respond to my charges with Justice and mercy and Grace and love is all the more evidence to me of how wrong I've been this world is full of really good people and finally I'm sorry for twisting God's word and distorting his [Music] doctrines my greatest desire is to stand in his court someday spotless and confident and judge Walton I know that standing before you today is a necessary step towards that end thank you to you and your staff for facilitating my opportunity to take accountability and to answer for my charges I am humbled and willing to serve a pres a prison sentence as long as it takes to continue unraveling all of this information I have believed and bought swallowed and acted out and for my family to heal and for the community to heal and I understand this is going to take time I'm committed to continuing my learning until all of my toxic layers are shed and I am ready to re-enter as a contributing member of our beautiful Society thank you judge walon thank you for your statement Miss Frankie anything else Mr Winward no your honor anything else prior to the court imposing sentence no your honor the sentence will be that Miss Frankie serve four counts four one to 15E sentences based on her convictions for four counts of aggravated child abuse again they will serve consecutively be served consecutively pursuant to the party's agreement and the applicable statute under the applicable statute the court finds that a cons that consecutive sentences are appropriate Miss Frankie the last thing I do need to tell you is that you have only 30 days to file or to perfect an appeal of any errors of the Court by filing a written notice of appeal with the clerk of the court if you don't do that within 30 days you will lose your right to appeal you also have the right to the assistance of an attorney on appeal and to have one appointed if you cannot afford to hire your own restitution as agreed by the parties will remain open for a period of 8 months any of the parties can bring that matter back before the court report within that that period of time anything else no your honor honor thank you thank you the next matter before the court is state of Utah versus hild debrandt case 23151 763 Mr Terry is here representing Miss Hilda Brandt Mr sham and Mr Clark are here representing the state your honor we anticipated 10:30 I'm not saying that we need to wait till then but can I have a moment please approach please 30 don't [Music] B [Music] rise is back in session Court Rec calls the matter of state of Utah versus hild debrandt case 23150 1763 councilor pres Miss hild debrandt is present Council there is a PR sentence investigation report I have read it everyone has seen and reviewed that yes your honor yes your honor again the sentence was stipulated at the time of the plea agreement what what record do we need to make other than going forward with sentencing um I your honor I it would be repetitive I so I I had the same statement just with the last few paragraphs where where I was differentiating between Miss fr Miss H the brand okay let's talk about about housekeeping matters first what about restitution we we stipulated to keep that open for eight months it is appropriate your honor since we don't have any evidence with respect to restitution and that's because it is still in the process of being gathered by uh the county attorney's office it's it's completely appropriate for the court to make no orders with respect to restitution other than to reserve all issues regarding restitution and we have no issue with the 8 8mon uh uh time frame and the injunction that was previously issued by the court will remain in effect it will at least until that time it will remain in effect until further order of this court all right Mr Clark thanks your honor the state of Utah respectfully requests that the court sent Miss sentence Miss hilderbrand to consecutive prison terms for each of the four counts of aggravated child abuse to which she has pleaded guilty the sentence was agreed to her in her plea agreement and is also recommended by adult probation and parole Miss Hill thebrand committed awful acts of child abuse from May to August 2023 she and her business partner held two children ages 9 and 11 turning 12 in a concentration camp like setting in her house in Ivan City the children were regularly denied food water beds to sleep in and virtually all forms of entertainment they were isolated from others and were hidden when people came to visit the house they were forced to do physical tasks like carrying loaded boxes up and down stairs and doing walls sits or sitting against a wall without assistance of a chair of stool for hours at a time they were forced to do manual labor outdoors in the extreme summer heat often without shoes or socks they were also forced to stand outside on a cement patio in the summer heat for hours and even days they were beaten and the 12-year-old was regularly bound hand and foot fo after he attempted to run away in mid July both children had extensive physical injuries from the abuse that required hospitalization to treat the injuries from The Binding are particularly bad in addition to the physical abuse the children were emotionally abused they each believed to some degree that they deserved what was being done to them had the older of the two children not had the courage to run away and ask a neighbor to call the police Heaven only knows how much longer he could have survived after being caught Miss hildbrand has shown little to no remorse for her actions in telephone conversations that will be provided in full to the Board of Pardons and Parole and which she knew to be recorded she's repeatedly claimed that she is the victim and the children of the perpetrators she has gone so far as to say that the things said in this proceeding and covered by the media today will be full of lies the combination of three factors make miss hillbrand a significant threat to the Community First the sever of the abuse she caused to be inflicted on young children second her attitude that everything she did was justified and that she is being wrongfully imprisoned and third her training is a therapist and aptitude for using online resources to convince others to follow her guidance Utah code section 76 3401 lays out three factors the court should consider in determining whether to impose concurrent or consecutive sentences the first is the gravity and circumstances of the defense the second is the number of victims and the third is the history character and rehabilitative need of the defendant as agreed to in the plea agreement and as recommended by ult probation and parole consecutive sentences are appropriate here this is due to the severity of the abuse to the two victims and the extreme need for Miss hildbrand to be rehabilitated so that she no longer will present a risk to the community the state respectfully requests that she be sentenced to four consecutive terms thank you Mr Clark Mr Terry thank you your honor uh I will be brief as is always the case in cases that come before courts there are two sides to every case and as um and even in a case like this that remains the case um there are many many allegations regarding these two individuals um Miss Frankie and my client miss hild debrandt the only facts in this case that are adjudicated facts are those set forth in the ple agreement that she entered into that she entered into freely and knowingly and voluntarily those facts those adjudicated facts are significant they certainly provide a basis for the pleas and provide a basis for the stipulated sentence in this case my experience with Miss hilderbrandt is that she is not the person that she has been portrayed to be but having said that she has accepted responsibility in this case she has entered into this plea agreement with a stipulated sentence of four consecutive uh sentences she did that at the time she entered into the plea agreement knowing that that would be the Court's order she is before the court today knowing that that would be the Court's order and she fully accepts that she accepts responsibility and she accepts the consequences for her conduct and we will submit it to the court on the stipulated agreement Mr AR you suggested that there there are two sides to every case I generally agree with you miss hilderbrand didn't make a statement to AP andp in in the course of the prenten investigation report correct why did she not make make a statement she wanted to reserve her right to make a statement before the court today and she has a brief statement that she wants to read your honor okay and M H de brand go ahead I sincerely love these children I desire for them to heal physically and emotionally one of the reasons I did not go to trial is that I did not want them to emotionally relive the experience which would have been detrimental to them my hope and prayer is that they will heal and move forward to have beautiful lives I am willing to submit to what the state fills would be an appropriate amount of time served to make distribution as an outcome and in answer to your question your honor I knew that whatever she might say to the author of the prenten report would probably be sound hollow and self-serving and perhaps if it does today but I know that my client in the statement that she makes to the court today that that statement is absolutely sincere not do Hilda Brandt recognize that it's her behavior that that cause the harm to the children that she's referred to in her statement your honor she recognizes that she was along with Miss Frankie um that that she made decisions with respect to the discipline of those children that were wrong that caused harm to those children she fully recognizes that and accepts responsibility for that all right anything else no you're on no you're on okay is hild De brand this this circumstance is tragic it's largely of of course of your making by any measure your conduct in this case was disastrous for these children adults are supposed to protect children adults with specialized training in particular are supposed to protect children you didn't do that in this case in this in this case you terrorize children and the results have been tragic it's what happened to these children and your philosophy in dealing with them frankly seems detached from reality or any objective standard of decency or or even common sense and the court finds that it is appropriate that you serve a prison sentence the court finds under the statute Utah code number of victims and the history and character and needs of the defendant that consecutive sentences are appropriate the court imposes four 1 to 15year sentences to be again served consecutively for each of the four counts of aggravated child abuse the last thing I do need to tell you is that you only have 30 days to file or perfect an appeal of any heor of the Court by filing a written notice of appeal with the clerk of the court if you don't do that you will lose your right to appeal that has to be filed in writing and again within 30 days you also have the right to the assistance of an attorney and to have an attorney appointed if you cannot afford to hire your own thank you we're in recess thank your honor thanks your honor

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Length: 39min 56sec (2396 seconds)

Published: Tue Feb 20 2024