Mother testifies she didn't report sex abuse because she 'didn't care'

Father accused of allowing sex offender, another man to sleep with daughter

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two Department of Children and Families investigators and the victim's mother testified Wednesday in the trial of a man accused of allowing a convicted sex offender and another man to have sex with his then-9-year-old daughter.

DCF Investigator Jennifer Buffington visited Christopher Perry's home in November 2010. She said Perry told her the his three children, two boys and a girl, were not left alone with Robert Young, the convicted sex offender, and that he had not heard of anything happening to his daughter.

The girl did not disclose any sexual contact at the time, Buffington said, and the case was closed with Buffington leaving a safety plan with the family that Young not be allowed to have unsupervised contact with the children.

Investigator Michael McClure visited the home unannounced on Feb. 11, 2011, after receiving a report of an uncle sleeping in bed with a child. That report stemmed from a drawing made by the child and concerns that she had become withdrawn, McClure said.

Perry and his wife, Mary Perry, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 years in this case, were home, along with Young and the child's grandmother. McClure said he first talked to the girl on the front porch and described her behavior as "flirty."

McClure said the girl admitted "Uncle Robert" slept in the bed with her because she had bad dreams, and her mom and dad knew. Christopher Perry acknowledged he was aware of the safety plan and said they did not violate it. He told McClure that he and Young had been friends for a long time and he didn't believe Young would do anything to hurt his daughter.

McClure said Young was very cooperative, and when he requested that Young voluntarily leave the home, he did. McClure said he couldn't require him to leave the home because he had no restrictions preventing him from being in the home by law.

Perry told McClure that Young slept on the couch, but when Young went to gather his things to leave, they were all in the girl's room, McClure said. The prosecution showed the jury several items from that room, including a license plate with hearts saying, "Uncle Robert Loves (the girl's name)," and a picture of a lock on the front of the bedroom door.

"I had a lot of concern for the parents' unwillingness to follow the safety plan again because Mr. Young was providing financial support for the family," McClure said.

On March 2, 2011, McClure said, he went to the girl's elementary school to talk to her, and she disclosed a history of sexual abuse by Young. McClure said the girl told him "Uncle Robert" touched her and "does it all the time." McClure said the girl was calm, almost void of emotion and kind of blank. He said she told her mom, dad and grandma about the abuse.

The girl was taken to foster care, along with her two younger brothers.

On March 5, 2011, McClure talked to the girl again in a foster home, and he said she told him her parents put a lock outside her bedroom door and would latch her inside with Young so she couldn't get out.

McClure said Perry never asked about his daughter, where she was, what was happening with her, what was going on, and showed no concern.

The jury on Wednesday was also shown a video of the girl describing in graphic detail what happened with her "Uncle Robert." Perry appeared to show no emotion, only taking a few notes every now and then.

The 42-year-old is facing eight counts of sexual battery, conspiracy to commit sexual battery, lewd and lascivious molestation and child neglect.

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office booking photos of MichaelHalveland and RobertYoung

He is charged with allowing Michael Halveland and Young (pictured, left) to have sex with his daughter.

Halveland has pleaded guilty to lewd and lascivious molestation and is awaiting sentencing. Young, a registered sex offender, is awaiting trial.

The girl's grandmother, Patricia Woloszynowski, is also charged with allowing the sexual abuse to take place. She's awaiting trial.

Mary Perry testified in her husband's trial Wednesday.

"Did you do anything about it?" asked the prosecution.

Mary Perry testifies in Christopher Perry's trial.

"No," answered Perry.

"Did your husband do anything about it?" asked the prosecution.

"No," answered Perry.

Perry said Young paid all the bills and used naked photos he had taken of her as blackmail. Perry said Young was an invited sexual guest in the Perry's bedroom, but none of those reasons were the one that kept her quiet.

"What's the reason you didn't report him to the authorities," asked prosecutors.

"I just didn't care," answered Perry.

"At that time Ms. Perry did you love your daughter," asked the prosecutor.

"No," answered Perry.

Mary Perry was been sentenced to 30 years in prison for conspiracy to commit sexual battery. She pleded guilty and agreed to testify against her husband to get that sentence.

He faces eight counts of sexual battery, conspiracy to commit sexual battery, lewd and lascivious molestation and child neglect.

The Perrys and the grandmother were initially charged with child neglect, but the charges were upgraded to sexual battery because prosecutors say they were active participants in the conspiracy.