Olympia man gets 28 months in prison for molesting 5-year-old girl

An Olympia man was sentenced to 28 months in prison Monday for molesting a 5-year-old girl.

Isaac Abeyta Severman, 33, appeared before Thurston County Superior Court Judge James Dixon. The sentence includes three years of probation and a sexual deviancy evaluation. Severman also must register as a sex offender.

Severman was initially charged with two counts of first-degree child molestation after his arrest in December 2013.

According to court documents, the girl had been visiting her father, who was living with Severman at the time, and she later told her mother that Severman had been “play fighting” with her and had touched her several times. The girl said Severman told her to keep it a secret. In another incident, Severman rubbed the girl while they were riding in a car.

In a November plea deal, Severman pleaded guilty to third-degree assault with sexual motivation, communication with a minor for immoral purposes, and bail jumping. The latter charge stems from failing to appear for his trial last August.

In a pre-sentence investigation, Severman maintained his innocence and said he accepted the plea deal to avoid conviction on more serious charges at trial.

At Monday’s hearing, the girl’s mother and father told the court about the psychological damage inflicted by Severman. The father said Severman took advantage of a “rocky relationship with my daughter.”

“If he did it to her, he would do it to anybody,” the father said.

The girl’s mother said the sentence of 28 months was not enough.

“I’m angry he received such a light punishment for such a horrible crime,” she said. “If it were my choice, he would serve a life sentence.”

Judge James Dixon praised the girl and her family for their courage to show up and address the court. But he said the court was limited to imposing the maximum sentence allowed by law.

Dixon also responded to a statement by Severman’s defense attorney, who said his client was “anxious” to go to prison and serve his sentence.

“Prison will not be a good place for you,” Dixon told Severman. “You will not have fun in prison.”

This story was originally published December 28, 2015 at 2:41 PM with the headline "Olympia man gets 28 months in prison for molesting 5-year-old girl."