Burkett: “We Take Child Sexual Abuse Serious in This County”

Jeff Burkett, Jefferson County DA
BROOKVILLE, Pa. (EYT) – Jefferson County District Attorney Jeff Burkett lauded the Pa. State Police and President Judge John Foradora for their work in the cases against Kevin Kight and Rebecca Gardner, who were recently sentenced in a child sex case.

(Photo above: Jeff Burkett, Jefferson County District Attorney)

Kight, of Punxsutawney, and Gardner, of Indiana, (pictured below) both received 30 to 60 years in state prison for their roles in the attempted rape of a four-year-old girl.

kight-gardner

“There were a number of investigators who worked on this case, I don’t want to say they’re hardened, but they are tough people who see a lot of human depravity,” Burkett said.

“We were all appalled by the facts of this case. You had a mother offering a child as a sexual object. One officer told me this case haunted her. This case is one that none of us will forget any time soon.

“When Judge Foradora sentenced Gardner, he used the word ‘despicable.’ I completely agree.”

In terms of the length of the sentence, Burkett showed it sends a message of how seriously we take child sexual abuse in this county.

“Also, I want to commend the State Police for moving very swiftly in this investigation so that Kevin Kight never had the opportunity to act upon his evil intentions with this little girl,” Burkett said. “She could have been victimized the very day the police were alerted to this situation but because they acted so quickly, a terrible situation was averted.

“They are heroes in my book,” Burkett said.

Related article: Local Couple Sentenced to 30 to 60 Years in Prison for Sex Crimes Against 4-Year-Old Girl


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