A Platte County jury convicted a Kansas City man of sexually abusing two young girls while in a relationship with their mother.
Robert F. Seaton, 45, was found guilty last week of statutory rape, statutory sodomy and child molestation following a two-day jury trial in Platte County. He faces up to 70 years in prison and must receive a sentence of no less than 60 years. Prosecutors proved at trial Seaton sexually abused the oldest victim around age 13 and the youngest from age eight until she was 11.
According to court documents, the abuse took place between approximately 2008 and 2011 but were not reported to authorities until Nov. 26, 2013 despite the mother of the children previously being aware of the alleged incidents.
“The defendant sentenced these girls to a lifetime of dealing with what he did to them,” Platte County prosecutor Eric Zahnd said. “This verdict and recommended sentence ensures that he will spend the rest of his life facing the consequences of his evil deeds.”
During the trial, one of the victims testified Seaton blew crack cocaine smoke into her mouth prior to sexually abusing her. After this abuse, she stayed away from the home for several months.
The youngest victim testified Seaton would threaten if she told anyone about the abuse, he would hurt her mother. Eventually, both victims did tell their mother about the abuse, but she did not believe either one of them or take any steps to protect them from Seaton.
“The victims’ mother failed to listen and failed to protect her own children,” Zahnd said. “Thankfully, these Platte County jurors did listen and did protect these victims.”
According to a probable cause statement for the original charges, the abuse occurred while Seaton and the unnamed woman were living together in the Willow Lake Apartments in southern Platte County, located on NW 61st Street. They were together for about 10 years and regularly smoked crack together at the time.
In November 2013, the victim told her grandmother about the abuse, and she contacted law enforcement. A follow-up forensic interview was conducted by Children’s Advocacy Center at Synergy Services with the youngest victim who revealed Seaton had sexually abused her for years.
The jury found Seaton guilty of four felonies — statutory rape, two counts of statutory sodomy and child molestation and recommended Seaton be sentenced up to a total of 70 years in prison. Under Missouri sentencing laws, the minimum Seaton can be sentenced to is 60 years.
During the sentencing phase, one of the victims testified, “My heart and soul have encouraged me to see this man prosecuted for what he did to me — not only for myself but for other young girls that he might come across later in life and also as a warning to other molesters.”
Seaton is scheduled to be sentenced by Circuit Judge James Van Amburg on March 26, 2015.