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Final defendant sentenced in Grants Pass sex crimes case Comment By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Feb. 2, 2016 at 4:18 PM By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Feb. 2, 2016 at 4:18 PM » Social News The final defendant in a sexual misconduct scandal that ensnared four employees of Kairos, a Grants Pass nonprofit that treats youths with mental health and behavioral issues, was sentenced Monday to 90 days in jail for having sex with a teenage girl in his care. Dewayne Sandle-Carnell worked as a skills coach supervisor for Kairos. The victim was a 17-year-old girl who was in Kairos' care as part of its New Beginnings program. Sandle-Carnell, 32, pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree sex abuse and was given the three-month sentence by Josephine County Circuit Court Judge Pat Wolke. Investigators found unclothed photos of the girl in Sandle-Carnell's possession, and he was initially charged with two counts of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct — a Measure 11 crime that carries a nearly six-year sentence. Those charges were dropped as part of a plea agreement. The girl's mother spoke at the sentencing, crying and clutching a tissue. She told the judge she placed her daughter at Kairos because the teen was recovering from a previous incident of sexual abuse and she thought it would help her. "I didn't know what to do to keep her safe. I thought Kairos was the place to be," said the mother. She said she was stunned when she learned Friday that Sandle-Carnell would get 90 days in jail rather than prison time. She criticized the District Attorney's Office for not pushing for a longer sentence. "I don't think that this is fair," she told the court. "I really don't." Deputy District Attorney Matt Corey said that given the circumstances of the case, he felt the punishment was appropriate. In addition to the jail time, Sandle-Carnell is now a felon and will have to register as a sex offender for life. "The defendant was wrong, and he's being held accountable today for what he did," Corey said. Corey then blasted Kairos. "The organization of Kairos where the defendant worked ... failed everybody. Failed the victim, failed the victim's family, failed even the defendant," Corey said gesturing toward Sandle-Carnell. "If I could indict the organization of Kairos, I would. Unfortunately there's no legal basis for me to do that." Sandle-Carnell's attorney, Jeni Feinberg, said her client has no prior criminal record and has been "very sad and very remorseful" for his actions. "Over the course of about three weeks last spring, he essentially ruined his future," she said. She noted that he's facing at least two years in prison if he violates the terms of his release after he's freed from jail. "He knows he's being given a huge opportunity by virtue of these negotiations," Feinberg said. Sandle-Carnell spoke briefly at the hearing. "I'm deeply sorry and it never was my intention to put anyone in harm's way ... I apologize for all this," he said. Wolke spoke directly to the mother before handing down the sentence. "From my perspective, I don't think Mr. Sandle-Carnell is getting off scot-free by a longshot," Wolke said, noting the sex offender registration requirement and the felony convictions. "It may make us all feel better for somebody to go to prison, but that's not always the appropriate resolution," Wolke said. "Just so you understand my thinking." The mother, accompanied by her court advocate, stood and walked out of the hearing at that point. Sandle-Carnell is the fourth former Kairos employee to be accused of sexual misconduct with a client. Three others already sentenced A co-defendant, 41-year-old Sonia Leamons, pleaded guilty in June to second-degree encouraging child sex abuse and attempting to use a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct, and was sentenced to 50 days in jail. Prosecutors said she sent sexually explicit photos of the victim to Sandle-Carnell. Another former worker, Jessica Morton, 31, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor custodial sexual misconduct in December and entered into a diversion agreement with the District Attorney's Office in which she'll pay a fine and eventually have her record expunged if she complies with the terms of the agreement. Morton had been accused of having a sexual relationship with a teenage boy in her care. A fourth employee, Jason Tesorero Morla, 34, was given a 30-day sentence in May for having sexual contact with a young woman in Kairos' care through the Oregon Youth Authority. Two state agencies that oversee Kairos, the Department of Human Services and the Oregon Health Authority, conducted separate reviews of the organization in the wake of the arrests. The OHA report found more than a dozen violations of state law and described a "maze-like" layout at the New Beginnings facility, security cameras that recorded no footage, lax oversight of one-on-one activities between staff and clients, and a lack of follow-up on complaints about employees' behavior — including a staffer who texted nude "selfies" to other staff members. The DHS report found that Kairos had made "extensive" improvements since the arrests, including by monitoring activities more closely and installing more security cameras. Bob Lieberman, CEO of Kairos, released a statement on behalf of the organization Monday saying the agency cooperated fully with investigators and is committed to implementing "extensive and ongoing positive improvements." "Our unwavering intent is to continue to build on what we've accomplished and learned, to help youths with serious challenges and their families build skills, gain hope and find solutions," he added. Kairos was founded in 1977 as the Southern Oregon Adolescent Study and Treatment Center, or SOASTC. The name changed to Kairos in 2012. The organization has facilities in Grants Pass, Medford, North Bend, Eugene and Salem. Reach reporter Melissa McRobbie at 541-474-3806 or [email protected]. By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Feb. 2, 2016 at 4:18 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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