A California babysitter, who offered her services specifically for children with special needs, abused three vulnerable young girls, enabling her boyfriend to take part in the exploitation.
Britney May Lyon, crying during her court sentencing, received a harsh 100-year prison term on Thursday. She is accused of sexually assaulting at least four girls she was supposed to care for, collaborating with Samuel Cabrera, 31, to create a sickening cycle of child abuse.
Lyon, 31, had previously pled guilty to multiple felony charges related to indecent behavior against minors. The San Diego District Attorney’s office has been involved in the proceedings.
Two of the girls were diagnosed with autism, and one was nonverbal.
Lyon and Cabrera often communicated to coordinate their access to the children, sometimes bringing them to Cabrera’s home or inviting him over when the girls were present.
In some instances, Lyon participated in the abuse alongside Cabrera, or took action against the children alone.
The abuse was facilitated by Lyon providing medications and other items to help carry out the exploitation.
This disturbing situation came to light when a 7-year-old girl confided in her mother in 2016 about her discomfort with the babysitter, who was, somewhat disturbingly, a family friend.
The mother reported her concerns to the authorities, leading to Lyon’s arrest.
Subsequent police investigations led to Cabrera’s arrest after a brief chase, where they discovered a double-locked box in his car filled with hard drives. These drives contained numerous recordings of the pair abusing children, often involving shocking acts of cruelty.
Footage captured by Lyon showed girls and women in various locations like fitting rooms, bathrooms, and locker rooms throughout the North County area.
A search for additional victims has been initiated, particularly concerning a family that had hired Lyon through an online babysitting platform.
Cabrera was convicted in 2019 and handed eight life sentences in 2021, while Lyon received her sentence on August 14th.
Interestingly, California law could allow Lyon to apply for parole when she reaches the age of 50, possibly enabling her to serve only 28 years of her sentence.
In response to the case, state Senate minority leader Brian Jones emphasized the need for accountability and praised the 100-year sentence while highlighting concerns regarding California’s parole laws.
New legislative proposals, such as Senate Bill 286, aim to prevent certain convicted sex offenders from being eligible for early parole, particularly focusing on protecting the community from violent offenders.
Concurrently, another bill seeks to close loopholes that could allow early release under the Elders’ Parole Act.
Both legislative measures are currently stalled, awaiting further discussion in their respective appropriations committees.
Local officials, including San Diego’s Summer Stephen, are advocating for these changes to prioritize community safety over the interests of offenders like Lyon, stating that the wellbeing of victims and children in California must come first.
