DELAND — A Deltona man was sentenced June 17 to spend the rest of his life in prison immediately after a jury — in less than 40 minutes — found him guilty of the sexual battery of two children and similar charges.
Steven Cribb, 33, was found guilty as charged of two counts of sexual battery on a person less than 12 years of age; two counts of lewd/lascivious molestation person 18 or older and a victim under 12; one count of conspiracy to commit sexual battery on a person less than 12 years of age; and one count of conspiracy to commit lewd/lascivious molestation by person 18 or older on a victim less than 12 years old.
Circuit Judge A. Kathleen McNeilly sentenced Cribb to four concurrent life sentences as well as a concurrent 30-year sentence and 15-year sentence.
Cribb did not appear to show any reaction to the verdict or the sentence.
Cribb’s wife, Dietz, who testified against him during his trial, also faces charges. Her case remains open.
The Volusia Sheriff’s Office arrested Cribb and Dietz on Feb. 22, 2023, and they have since been held at the Volusia County Branch Jail.
The children were known to the couple.
Investigation begins after girl tries to kiss boy on school bus
The investigation began when an 8-year-old girl tried to kiss the private area of a boy on a school bus on their way to elementary school. The little girl received a referral. An assistant principal testified that she thought there must be some mistake and asked the girl at lunchtime what happened on the bus. The girl said she saw Cribb and his wife, Laura Dietz, do such acts.
“She kind of looked at me like it was no big deal,” the assistant principal, since retired, testified.
The girl also said Cribb would “tickle” her, motioning to her chest and genital area.
That launched an investigation which led Volusia Sheriff’s Office detectives to Cribb’s and Dietz’s home in Deltona.
When a detective told Cribb the girl said Cribb had touched her private area, Cribb said “it was possible.”
Cribb also claimed that it started when he was in the shower with the girl and the girl put his genitals in her mouth.
Cribb also admitted to other sexual acts with the girl, saying they happened “a few dozen times.”
Cribb said he never forced the child.
Cribb also said he committed acts on another younger girl.
Assistant State Attorneys Jeanne Stratis and Haley Mark prosecuted the case.
Deltona man claims he was mentally ill and recants admission
Later, Cribb took the stand and claimed that he had made a false confession, saying that he suffered from a mental illness but that medication received at the jail had helped him.
Cribb’s wife, Dietz, took the stand and testified that Cribb sexually abused both girls. She said she would return home from work at times and Cribb, who did not work, would tell her about the abuse. She also participated in some of the abuse, according to court records.
Defense attorney Daniel Hernandez in his closing argument June 17 drew jurors’ attention to Cribb’s testimony that he suffered from mental illness. Hernandez said Cribb received medication at the jail which allowed him to realize his statements to Volusia Sheriff’s Office detectives were untrue.
“I suggest to you it was a false confession,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez questioned Dietz’s testimony during which she said she testified because it was the right thing to do, not because she was expecting any benefit in her own case.
The children did not testify during the trial. Hernandez brought that up in his closing saying jurors never heard from the children and were unable to evaluate whether they had been coached.
Stratis told jurors that the children had undergone years of abuse, therefore, they were not made to come to the courtroom to testify.
Deltona man blames child victim for sexual abuse
Stratis said Cribb started abusing one of the children when the child was 2 and the other was a 1.5 years old.
She said that a child would not know anything about performing oral sex and that it was Cribb who trained her to do that. She said Cribb was blaming the 8-year-old victim for the sexual abuse.
Stratis said Cribb was now “conveniently” forgetting his confession.
She said Cribb was blaming an 8-year-old for his child sexual abuse, claiming the child initiated the sex.
Cribb said the sexual abuse happened a few dozen times.
Cribb also made admissions to his wife when they were in the back of a patrol car, saying it was his fault and that he shouldn’t have dragged her into it.
Stratis also pointed to another statement Cribb made in the back of the patrol car.
“He said: ‘I’m not going to lie and say I didn’t do it.’ He certainly said he didn’t do it here in front of you,” Stratis said.
In a social media post following the verdict, 7th Circuit State Attorney R.J. Larizza said: “Your prosecutors are dedicated to protecting you and your family by ridding our communities of those who prey upon our children. A life sentence in this case makes justice a reality for all of us!”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Deltona man gets life in prison for sexual battery of 2 children
Reporting by Frank Fernandez, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Frank Fernandez, Daytona Beach News-Journal | USA TODAY Network
