Transcript of Tornado | EP 5 | Saskia's Story

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I'm Clayton Eckert. In 2022, I was the lead of ABC's The Bachelor.

But here's the thing, Bachelor fans hated him.

If I could press a button and rewind it all, I would.

That's when his life took a disturbing turn. A one-night stand would end in a courtroom. The media is here.

This case has gone viral.

The dating contract.

Agree to date me, but I'm also suing you. This is unlike anything I've ever seen before.

I'm Stephanie Young. Listen to Love Trapped on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

On the adventures of Curiosity Cove podcast, when peanut butter disappears from school, Ella, Scout, and Leila launch a full detective mission. Their search leads them back in time to meet a brilliant inventor whose curiosity changed the world. In this Black History Month adventure, asking questions, thinking creatively can lead to amazing discoveries. Listen to adventures of Curiosity Cove every Monday from the Black Effect podcast network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Hi, it's Jill Interesting, host of the spirit daughter podcast, where we talk about astrology, natal charts, and how to step into your most vibrant life. And today I'm talking with my dear friend, Krista Williams.

It can change you in the best way possible. Dance with the change, dance with the breakdowns.

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On December 18th, 2018, Mike Levent Good was charged with rape. The prosecutors spent the next year building the case against him. They were going to jury trial, and the state wanted a conviction. So they ran toxicology, consulted with experts, combed through online chats, and analyzed every moment of the dozens of videos they were able to track down. In the end, they gathered over 30 videos Mike had filmed without Saskia's consent. In many of them, she was completely unconscious, and her husband was violating her. Mike was charged with 31 counts of illegal surveillance. And even though prosecutors had video evidence of what Mike did, in the end, they were only able to bring four counts of rape. Under Maryland law, it was legal to rape your unconscious spouse, just so long as it was done without force. If he was found guilty of every charge, he spend the rest of his life in prison. That was Saskia's hope.

I wanted him to be in jail, and I felt like testifying against him and holding him accountable would give me back some of my power.

But if the jury questioned Saskia's story, Mike could walk free. For Ashley Inderferth, the lead prosecutor on the case, it was nerve-wracking.

This isn't a scenario where It's a 50/50, and we got to get it to 51%. The jury has to believe it beyond a reasonable doubt.

In the final lead up to the trial, Ashley had to pass the case off to another colleague.

I had to go out on maternity leave.

She was pregnant with twins, and they came early. In the months after they were born, she practically lived in the NICU.

I was really not thinking about work, but this case was an exception.

The day before Mike's trial was set to begin, Ashley was in the hospital. She was at her baby's bedside when her phone rang. It was Rebecca McFitty, the prosecutor who took over Saskia's case. Ashley answered right away.

She knew how much I cared about it, and she called me to make sure I was okay with what she was going to do.

I'm Andrea Gunning, and this is Betrayal, Season 5, episode 5. Tornado. Saskia had just started working again after taking a year off to manage her trauma. That morning, she was sitting in a conference room talking with her fellow social workers. But the only thing on her mind was tomorrow's trial. She was expecting a call from the prosecutor to let her know what time to be there the next day. Instead, she got a message saying there was news.

I said I had to excuse myself, and I went into the psychiatrist office because it was a bigger room, and I went and sat on the chair and was shaking and just waiting to hear what happened, how we were proceeding.

The minutes crept by. Then, after what felt like an eternity.

I got the call saying that he made this plea deal, and they wanted to accept it.

Mike was pleading guilty. He would serve time and be on the sex offender registry for life. But...

He only had to plea guilty for one count of rape, and it felt like it discounted all of the times, all of the deceit, all of the manipulation. It was like it came down to one incident.

For a year, Saskia had been preparing to take the stand to make Mike answer for what he'd done to her in video after video. Now she learned there would be only one charge. And there would be no trial.

I felt that my chance to speak my truth was gone, and my emotions, all the lead up to that, just drained out of me in tears.

The decision to go to trial wasn't hers to make. Because the prosecutors don't represent Saskia like attorneys would in a civil case. They represent the state of Maryland and its citizens as a whole, and they had to be realistic. With the instructions given to the jury, would they convict? Remember, the law wasn't on Saskia's side. Force was required to prosecute spouses for rape.

But the force was minimal because she was completely incapacitated.

That's Debbie Feinstein, head of the Special Victims Division at the State's Attorney's office in Montgomery County. She supervised the case.

We could see on the videos that he had moved parts of her body, and we planned to argue that was force. Would have we been successful? I don't know, because it's not conventionally what someone thinks of when they think of force.

The burden of proof was incredibly high. Any doubt as to whether Mike's actions constituted forcible rape could throw the whole case out the window. He could walk free. The state's attorneys also had to think about Saskia. They were aware of Saskia's alcohol use, her dependence on prescription medications, her mental health history, and her dad's mental health history. These were all things that a defense attorney would use to turn a jury against her. Here's Ashley, the original prosecutor.

They're going to be throwing out these things about this person to try to undermine their credibility. And that is a really hard thing for victims to deal with. And it makes it harder for us to prove our case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Everyone at the state's attorney's office believed Saskia. They'd seen the evidence. This woman had been raped. But their belief in Saskia and their certainty that this was a crime wasn't enough to ensure a conviction.

As Debbie told us, Unfortunately, mental health still has stigma around it that can impact a juror. It shouldn't, but it does.

With all of this in mind, when Mike said he was ready to take a plea, the prosecutors said yes. With a plea deal, they'd avoid the risk of a jury acquitting Mike. They'd get a guaranteed guilty. When Ashley, the original prosecutor, got the news.

I was really glad to hear it. Given all of the complexities with this case, I thought that him pleading guilty was the very best thing that could happen. I told my colleague that I was very pleased with what she had been able to work out.

So the decision was made. There would be no trial. But Saskia would still get her day in court because after Mike took the plea, he had a sentencing hearing. At this hearing, Judge Jill Cummins would determine exactly how long Mike would spend behind bars. Saskia walked down the center aisle into the courtroom with her sister, brothers, and friends by her side.

We were just all so excited for at least this piece of this terrible process to be behind me and behind us, and for him to at least be taken away in shackles for doing what he did.

The courtroom was emptier than she'd imagined it. It was just a handful of spectators, some attorneys, some clerks, and the judge sitting at the front of the room where the jury would have been were twelve vacant chairs. Saskia, her friends, and family took their seats in the gallery.

We're just pretty dead silent waiting for the case to be called and waiting for Mike to be brought in.

And then the doors opened. In walked Mike. Saskia's friend Bridget recall seeing him that day. He was wearing a suit and brand new white sneakers. At a glance, he was put together, but the outfit didn't fool her. He looked gaunt, and he had lost a lot of weight from stress, and that's only because he knew he got caught. You would think that you would put your head down or just have some level of remorse or shame, and he didn't. He looked straight at me and then looked straight ahead. It gave me chills. Mike took his seat next to his two attorneys. The sentencing hearing was ready to begin. What we're about to play for you are real excerpts from that day. Call 1-Face 1-3-5-0-6-3. Stand around. This is Michael Paul Leventhal. Good morning, all. You want to advance your education, but not on a traditional path? At Rasmussen University, you'll find flexible and engaging online experiences, tuition savings options if you qualify, exceptional student support, and much more. You may also qualify for a new laptop when you enroll in select online or on-campus programs. Enroll for a fully online program or on one of their 20 campuses across six states.

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In 2023, a story gripped the UK, evoking horror and disbelief.

The A nurse who should have been in charge of caring for tiny babies is now the most prolific child killer in modern British history.

Everyone thought they knew how it ended. A verdict? A villain. A nurse named Lucy Lekker. Letby.

Lucy Lepby has been found guilty.

But what if we didn't get the whole story?

The moment you look at the whole picture, the case collapses.

I'm Amanda Knox, and in the new podcast, Doubt: The Case of Lucy Lepby, we follow the evidence and hear from the people that lived it to ask what really happened when the world decided who Lucy Letby was.

No voicing of any skepticism or doubt.

It'll cause so much harm at every single level if the British establishment of this is wrong.

Listen to Doubt, The Case of Lucy Letby on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hi, this is Joe Winterstein, host of the Spirit Daughter podcast, where we talk about natal charts and how to step into your most vibrant life. And I just sat down with a mini driver.

The Irish traveler said, When I was 16, you're going to have a terrible time with men.

Actor, storyteller, and unapologetic, Aquarian visionary. Aquarius is all about freedom-loving and different perspectives. And I find a lot of people with strong placements in Aquarius are misunderstood. A sun in Venus and Aquarius in her seventh house spark her unconventional approach to partnership.

He really has taught me to embrace people sleeping in different rooms on different houses in different places, but just an embracing of the is-ness of it all.

If you're navigating your own transformation or just want a chart-side view into how a leading artist integrates astrology, creativity, and real life, this episode is a must listen. Listen to the spirit daughter podcast starting on February 24th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to your podcast.

I'm Clayton Eckerd, and in 2022, I was the lead of ABC's The Bachelor.

Unfortunately, it didn't go according to plan. He became the first bachelor to ever have his final rose rejected. The Internet turned on him.

If I could press a button and I wind it all, I would.

But what happened to Clayton after the show made even bigger headlines. It began as a one-night stand and ended in a courtroom, with Clayton at the center of a very strange paternity scandal.

The media is This case has gone viral.

The dating contract.

Agree to date me, but I'm also suing you.

Please search for it.

This is unlike anything I've ever seen before. I'm Stephanie Young. This is Love Trapped. This season, an epic battle of he said, she said, and the search for accountability in a sea of lies.

I have done nothing except get pregnant by the bachelor.

Listen to Love Trapped on the iHeartRadio app, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts.

The hearing began with a statement by one of Mike's defense attorneys. He was determined to get the minimum possible penalty for his client, and he pulled out every stop to make that happen.

Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. And Mike, the great parts of him will continue and dominate for the rest of his life. In this particular case, regarding the conduct here, Mr. Leventhal understands that it is unacceptable. And I'm very confident as I stand here today, that he has internalized that.

The attorney had witnesses prepared to testify to Mike's strong character, and he had letters from Mike's family, friends, and coworkers, all saying the same thing. Mike was a good man.

He has been kind to others. He has been empathetic others. He has been non-self-centered. He has been a giving person and an excellent dad and an excellent employee and friend to dozens throughout his life.

On top of that, Mike had been given a psych evaluation. It's commonly done in criminal cases to help inform sentencing decisions. Mike's evaluator said he was a low risk to society. He wasn't a danger to other women. As Mike's attorney argued, this crime was a misstep in an otherwise perfect life.

When you get in the mix of the tornado and whirlwind of pornography addiction or pornography fixation, however you want to characterize it, it twirls you out of control at certain moments. And again, there's nothing that takes away in anything that I'm saying of his own responsibility, and his own agency, and his own free will. But I do think that this was part of this hailstorm or tornado is the best thing I could think of him being twirled into these, we would say, unacceptable criminal series of conduct.

Mike's other attorney also made remarks. And of course, he brought up the marital exemption.

Much of the most offensive behavior in this case was actually legal under the law, which has no bearing on whether or not it's moral, appropriate, desired, or right. But as it was, this case was difficult because incapacitation is not a grounds of sexual assault with your spouse in Maryland. And the hours of footage that were presented by the state were largely of somebody incapacitated.

And then, he snuck in another argument.

There were also hours and hours of footage of mutual, completely different conduct that was sexual nature and was pornographic. It was completely within their marriage and completely within the two of them, and purely for their own private enjoyment.

I want to underscore what's happening here. Mike was pleading guilty. According to his lawyers, he took full responsibility for what he did to Saskia. He was sorry. But in the same breath, Mike's defense team was trying to discredit Saskia. They were trying to convince the judge that Saskia did consent in hopes of getting Mike less time. This was all one big misunderstanding. You'll hear the judge's take on that later in the episode. But for now, back to Mike's attorney.

Mr. Leventhal was in a committed marriage. He did not ever cheat on her, did not in any way stray from loving her. His commitment to her was real, and the things that he shared with her were real, however perverse and wrong and misguided and based on from so many codependent and bad things, they were real. He has accepted responsibility for this position, and he will accept the punishment, and he will go to jail to death. Someone who's never been in jail, who is successful who is, while this was going on, making 200, $250,000 a year and living a life for him that was in many ways perfect, that was on paper everything that you would want. His life will He will be ruined by this. He will be a lifetime registrant on the sex offender registry. He will be instantly judged by anyone who meets him. He will be restricted on where he can live and so many other things. And he has gotten a lot of perspective himself from what is important from this whole thing. Losing everything can help you see the material matters that really matter to being happy and being safe and secure.

With that, he asked the judge to give Mike the lowest possible sentence. And then it was the state's turn. The prosecutor, Rebecca McVitty, stood up before the judge.

This is a familiar situation for the court in the sense that we have a defendant that during the light of day in all regards, is looked at as a contributing member of society, somebody who is lovable and likable. And that is exactly the aspect of the defendant's personality that allows allowed Ms. Inwood to fall for him, to love him, and to trust him. But these types of crimes, as the court seen over and over again, are not committed in the light of day. They are committed in darkness after that trust has been established. That is the reason that this betrayal is so intense for Ms. Inwood. As defense council mentioned, this resolution is a compromise under the current state of Maryland law. If the state was not precluded from going forward on rape charges under the incapacitation theory, the state would be looking at hours and hours of more footage, countless more counts of second-degree rape, as the defendant himself admits, repeatedly engaging in sexual acts while Ms. Inwood was completely unconscious. Defense Council referenced that this was a tornado of pornography addiction, but a tornado comes and goes in moments. From October 20, 2017 until October 25, 2018, about a year, the defendant that we know of videotaped Ms. Inwood while she was unconscious or inebriated over 30 times.

That is not a tornado. That is a year of perpetuating this continual betrayal of trust over and over again with the person he was supposed to protect the most.

Rebecca then described the contents of one of the videos Mike took because the charges on paper could never capture what was in those videos. It feels important to Saskia and to us for people to know the extent of Mike's crimes. But if you'd like to skip hearing these details, you can fast forward one minute.

In one of the videos that the state provided to the court, Ms. Inwood is asleep, unconscious, however you'd like to say it, about 14 minutes into her being unconscious. She pushes the defendant away, and it looks like she mounds the word, Stop. After that happens, the defendant continues to perform sexual acts with her, including He's getting digital penetration of her vagina, inserting sex toys in her vagina. And at the end, you see that he just leaves the camera on while she's unconscious in that bed. There is no doubt that over the course of the year, the defendant waited until she was unconscious to get online and chat and exchange pornographic videos for tokens or coins or payment of in some sort. He perpetrated every woman's fear by taking away her voice, her choice in the matter, and he left her powerless to protect herself.

Finally, Rebecca brought up the psych evaluation, the one given to Mike, where the psychologist concluded that he was a low risk to society. She said there was one thing missing from that assessment.

Dr. Deem in his sex offender evaluation was actually never given a copy of these videos. He was given descriptions by the defense as to what these videos entail. It is a dramatic difference from reading the words on the statement of charges to watching that betrayal, that abuse, and the disturbing act that the defendant chose to record.

And with that, the prosecutor concluded her argument. She asked the judge for the maximum possible sentence under the plea agreement. For Saskia, the speech was validating.

It was like, yes, we've had to go through this painful process, but we didn't doubt that he was guilty.

The prosecutor sat back at her desk. But before Judge Cummins could make her sentencing decision, there were still two people left to hear from.

Her sister would like to speak in and would like to be heard from. Absolutely.

Saskia and her sister, Marisa, had prepared victim impact statements. It would be Saskia's one chance to address Mike on the record, and it would be her only opportunity to show the judge who Mike Leventhal really was. Marisa stood up and addressed the court.

Michael Leventhal, you have no shame. You sit here and you deny your wrongdoing in the face of your futile evidence that you're a rapist. We her family and friends, we know what you did. We see the truth clearly. I know when it all started, even before the date was shared today, because she was deteriorating mentally and visibly right before our eyes, and we had no explanation as to why. I went with her, with you sometimes, to multiple doctors and hospitals, trying to find out what was wrong with her. No one could answer how she could get well. I recall vividly one night shortly after her mother died, which I will share that that date was September 30th, 2017, right before the videos began, when despite drinking no more than anyone else, she was suddenly and surprisingly so incapacitated that she could not walk. Everyone was so concerned what had happened. She was fine one minute and then not the next. We thought about taking her to the hospital, but he was so calm, always in charge, always in control, less concerned than others, and reassured me that she would be fine that he was there to take care of her.

And now I have to wonder, based on that date, did you drug her that night? Or did you just encourage her to drink? Did you set up your cameras and fondle and manipulate her body while she was not aware and could not physically resist you? I know on my bones that you did. What affects me most is your cockiness in those videos. How cool you felt. How powerful. To be able to do this without anyone knowing, to be able to pull it off time after time and then put on your good husband mask during the day and reap the rewards of a beautiful home and a loving wife. Your Honor, even now I feel my words are probably lost on him. He has only been concerned about himself and his consequences and his future life. Don't let him displace blame onto his victim. Don't let other husbands or I think they can do whatever they want to their spouses. Ensure that all people know having sex with an unconscious person is called rape, even when you're married to him. Thank you, Your Honor.

Thank you, ma'am.

Then, after Marisa, it was finally Saskia's turn. With her paper shaking in her hand, she walked up to a table between the prosecution and the defense. Her body was angled towards the judge, but really, she wanted to deliver the speech to Mike.

I knew not to expect any empathy or remorse, and I think that drove me even more. The only thing that I can get is for him to have to sit with what he did to me. Let me start by saying there's not enough jail time for you that will make me feel safe or give me back what I had before you victimized me.

You deserve the maximum possible sentence. You pretended to be a loving husband, and yet you were my attacker. By posting pictures and videos of your crimes against my body on the Internet for people to watch. I suffered embarrassment and shame that I don't deserve. I never deserve it. It makes me sick to my stomach to think about the hours and hours of those images being watched by strangers. Maybe the first part was when I woke up to catch you filming me and then to finally see evil in your eyes. And that's exactly what I saw. No remorse, no caring, no sympathy, a cold and empty man. And at that point, I knew that no amount of money and personal discomfort would stop me from pursuing justice so that you were not able to prey on other vulnerable women. You pretended to support me through my ups and downs, never once letting on that you were using me. I I had no idea that the cause of my mispour was lying in the bed next to me. You deserve to go to jail with the people who are real dangerous to society. You're a dangerous person who pray on vulnerable and trusting people.

You're a sexual predator, Michael Leventhal And you took away my ability to feel safe and to trust anybody wholeheartedly.

You took away for me my happiness, and I'll never be the same because of you.

Thank you, Ms. Inwood.

After Saskia, Mike was offered the last word. This would have been the moment to take accountability or to apologize. He chose to say nothing. At last, it came time for Judge Jil Cummins to deliver Mike's sentence.

I was very familiar with the statement of charges. Knew what you were accused I'm very familiar with the facts of the case. But intellectually, knowing the facts of the case is very different from watching those videos.

You You want to advance your education, but not on a traditional path? At Rasmussen University, you'll find flexible and engaging online experiences, tuition savings options if you qualify, exceptional student support, and much more. You may also qualify for a new laptop when you enroll in select online or on-campus programs. Enroll for a fully online program or on one of their 20 campuses across six states. Start when you're ready and get the support you need. Visit rasmussen. Edu.

In 2023, a story gripped the UK, evoking horror and disbelief.

A nurse who should have been in charge of caring for tiny babies is now the most prolific child killer in modern British history.

Every everyone thought they knew how it ended. A verdict, a villain, a nurse named Lucy Letby.

Lucy Lepby has been found guilty.

But what if we didn't get the whole story?

The moment you look at the whole picture, the case collapses.

I'm Amanda Knox, and in the new podcast, Doubt: The Case of Lucy Letby, we follow the evidence and hear from the people that lived it. To ask what really happened when the world decided who Lucy Letby was.

No voicing of any skepticism or doubt.

It'll cause so much harm at every single level if the British establishment of this is wrong.

Listen to Doubt: The Case of Lucy Letby on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hi, this is Jo Winterstein, host of the spirit daughter podcast, where we talk about astrology, natal charts, and how to step into your most vibrant life. I just sat down with a mini driver.

The Irish traveler said, When I was 16, you're going to have a terrible time with men.

Actor, storyteller, and unapologetic, Aquarian visionary. Aquarius is all about freedom-loving and different perspectives. I find a lot of people with strong placements in Aquarius are misunderstood. A sun in Venus and Aquarius in her seventh house spark her unconventional approach to partnership.

He really has taught me to embrace people sleeping in different rooms on different houses in different places, but just an embracing of the isness Love it.

If you're navigating your own transformation or just want a chart-side view into how a leading artist integrates astrology, creativity, and real life, this episode is a must listen. Listen to the spirit daughter podcast starting February 24th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your podcast.

I'm Clayton Eckert, and in 2022, I was the lead of ABC's The Bachelor.

Unfortunately, it didn't go according to plan. He became the first bachelor to ever have his final rose rejected. The Internet turned on him.

If I could press a button and rewind it all, I would.

But what happened to Clayton after the show made even bigger headlines. It began as a one-night stand and ended in a courtroom, with Clayton at the center of a very strange paternity scandal.

The media is here. This case has gone viral.

The dating contract.

Agree to date me, but I'm also suing you. Please search for it.

This is unlike anything I've ever seen before. I'm Stephanie Young. This is Love Trapped. This season, an epic battle of he said, she said, and the search for accountability in a sea of lies.

I have done nothing except get pregnant by the bachelor. Listen to Love Trapped on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Judge, Jill Cummins, had been prepared for a full criminal trial. She had presided over the case for months, hearing all kinds of motions and pretrial arguments. At this point, she knew the case well. Much of the time at sentencing hearings, judges give brief explanations of their decision. Some judges give no speech at all. Judge, Jill Cummins, was no such judge.

Mr. Leventhal, what I will tell you is I've read every letter that everyone has submitted on your behalf, your letters from your daughters, your coworkers, your friends, your ex-wife, and everyone has the same impression of you as a fine, outstanding person. But interestingly, with the exception, I'd say, of your ex-wife, your friends, your coworkers, they don't know what happens behind bedroom doors and what people do in the privacy of their own homes. As you know, I've lived with this case for almost the last year now. And what I will say is I was very familiar with the statement of charges. Knew what you were accused of, had read it several times, every time you had appeared before me for pretrial statuses, a motion to everything. I'm very familiar with the facts of the case. But intellectually, knowing the facts of the case is very different from watching those videos. Not easy to watch those videos at all.

The judge had only just seen those videos in preparation for the sentencing. They shifted her entire understanding understanding of the case.

It was clear to me that force was exercised in those videos. It was clear to me that Ms. Inwood was comatose not asleep, but comatose, unconscious. Absolutely. It was clear to me that you were enjoying yourself, that you weren't just taping this on the laptop. It looked like you had to have on some... I couldn't describe it anything other like a GoPro video thing, taping as you were maneuvering yourself and her. You added some extra cameras there for camera angles. So reading the statement of charges and knowing the statement of charges was one thing. Watching those videos was something completely Completely different. What was clear to me was that was not consensual behavior. It was disturbing. And the life that you have led, I do not diminish that. Your education, your success that you had in the business arena, that you have victimized Ms. Inwood. The damage done to her is probably irreparable, knowing that those videos were out there for the the world to see.

Then, the judge addressed the psych evaluation.

After watching those videos, the very first question in my mind was, Did Dr. Dean watch those videos when he rendered his evaluation? Ms. Mcvitty answered that question for me this morning, and it was no. He didn't watch those videos. So I I will now definitely take Dr. Dean's evaluation with a grain of salt, knowing that he didn't see the videos, to understand the conduct that makes up these charges. I did have some concern when I read the evaluation that there did seem to be some lack of acceptance or responsibility on your part for the crime that you pled guilty to. As I read this evaluation, I didn't take this as She was saying that I was wrong, I shouldn't have done this. It was, We started down this path, and she told me that when she passed out, I could do whatever I wanted to her. That's not someone who's saying, I know what I did was wrong. That's someone saying, Well, she said I could do whatever I want to her when she was comatose. After watching those videos, I I don't believe that that's what she said. So I'm in the position of finding that you were not truly accepting of your guilt or responsibility in this case, Mr. Leventhal.

You were a predator to Ms. Inwood. Mr. Levent Good, you have received the benefit of a plea agreement. Your guidelines are 4-9 years.

She's referring to the sentencing guidelines for second-degree rape. If the case had gone to trial, these the instructions the judge would have used to ensure fair sentencing.

Your attorneys in the state have negotiated a very good range for you based upon those guidelines. So as to count one, Second-degree rape. I'm going to sentence you to 15 years. Suspend all but 18 months.

Suspend all but 18 months. The judge believed Mike's crimes warranted a 15-year sentence, but his defense team had struck a deal with the state. As part of the plea agreement, they decided on a maximum amount of time Mike would spend behind bars. Eighteen months. Eighteen months is a magic number in Montgomery County. It meant that Mike would go to county jail instead of state prison. Saskia first heard that number on her call with Rebecca, the prosecutor. It was the same call where she learned there would be no trial. When she heard that Mike would only serve a maximum of 18 months, she was devastated.

I can't tell you how wrong that felt.

Her sister, Marisa, tried to help her see the positives of the plea.

We try to focus on the guilty plea. He's a sex offender for life.

These are big deals, but it didn't feel equivalent to what he had taken from her. He deserves more time, and it was a slap in the face that he didn't get more time. The prosecutors knew Saskia wanted Mike in prison for life. But victims' perspectives are only one element that they weigh in making plea agreements.

We're constantly balancing, how are we going to hold the offender accountable for what they did? How are we going to try to help the victim get some closure on the criminal case? And then public safety. What are we doing in in terms of protecting the public from this offender?

To the prosecutors, 18 months plus a guarantee that Mike would be on the sex offender registry for life was a win. On that day in court, when the judge handed down the sentence Marisa was moved.

Oh, God, that was just an amazing... That was amazing. I feel like the judge just saw. The judge saw everything.

Even though we knew he was going to get 18 months, We knew that was going to be the outcome. We knew we were going to have a chance to speak and to tell him, You did this, and we know you did this.

I didn't realize that there was going to be that huge validation. Here's Saskia.

I remember the attorneys and him whispering something to each other, and he got up and the bailiff went to meet him.

Mike was handcuffed and led out the front doors.

And my friend Bridget tried to snap a photo.

Before Mike could get away, Saskia's friend Bridget pulled out her phone. I just wanted to record him getting handcuffed and walking off so that I could show Saskia he is where he needs to be. And I wanted her to be able to see that so that she could have that replay in her head and not have all these terrible memories replay in her head. I had pulled my phone up and I thought I was being inconspicuous, but he looked over at me and was like, Your Honor. You're not supposed to take photos or videos in courtroom. Saskia's other friend, Coleen, remembers Mike's reaction well.

He looked around frantically for the judge to help him.

His dismay at everyone watching him and recording him in the violation that he expressed was very ironic. Saskia wishes this moment of seeing her perpetrator taken to jail would have fixed everything.

I thought it would heal a part of me. I thought it would heal me feeling like a helpless victim.

She thought she'd be relieved.

Instead, I just had anger and hatred. I had sadness and loss for the person that I thought he was. But that person died.

Saskia had a lot of healing to do, but that healing had to happen beyond the courtroom. For perpetrators, jail or prison can be a final destination. But for victims, that jail sentence is just the beginning. It's something Ashley, the prosecutor, often tells victims.

The result of the criminal case can't be the be all and end all. Even if we win and get every single count, somebody that you loved and cared about and married is going to prison for a long time. That's hard, too. Or there's an acquittal. You've internalized that a jury didn't believe you. So the criminal justice system It can be a part of your healing, but it can't be all of it because it's not going to do it.

Finally, Mike was in jail, but having him behind bars didn't mean he was out of Saskia's life.

He was smart enough to know that this was going to now be a family law case.

The criminal matter was finalized, but the legal battle wasn't over. Not by a long shot. On the next episode of Betrayal.

He was really depressed. There was no use on her part more than mine. When she starts drinking, she doesn't stop.

I felt like it was on the twilight zone. The fact that the judges were even listening to these things was blowing my mind.

For resources on sexual violence, visit reine. Org/betrial. That's R-A-I-N-N. Org/betrial. You can also get free confidential 24/7 support through Raine's National Sexual Assault Hotline. Just text Hope to 64673 or call 1-800-656-Hope. You are not alone. If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal team or want to tell us your story, email us at betrealpod@gmail. Com. That is betrealpod@gmail. Com. Or follow us on Instagram at Betreal Pod. To access additional content and to connect with the Betreal community, join our Substack at betreal. Substack. Com. We're grateful for support. One way to show support is by subscribing to our show on Apple Podcasts. Don't forget to rate and review Betrayal. Five-star reviews go a long way. A big thank you to all of our listeners. Betrayal is a production of Glass Podcasts, a division of Glass Entertainment Group, in partnership with iHeartPodcasts. The show is executive-produced by Nancy Glass and Jennifer Faison, hosted and produced by me, Andrea Gunning, written and produced by Kaitlyn Golden. Our supervising producer is Kari Hartman. Our story editor is Monique Laborde, also produced by Ben Fetterman. Associate producers are Olivia Hewitt and Leah Jablo. Production management by Kristen Malkuri.

Additional support by Curry Richmond. Our iHeart team is Allie Perry and Jessica Kreincheck. Audio editing by Tanner Robbins, with additional editing and mixing by Matt Dalvecchio. Special thanks to Saskia, her friends, and family. And special thanks to Will Pearson and Kari Lieberman. The Trail's theme is composed by Oliver Baines. Music library provided by Mybe Music. And for more podcast from iHeart, visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You want to advance your education, but not on a traditional path? At Rasmussen University, you'll find flexible and engaging online experiences, tuition savings options if you qualify, exceptional student support, and much more. You may also qualify for a new laptop when you enroll in select online or on-campus programs. Enroll for a fully online program or on one of their 20 campuses across six states. Start when you're ready and get the support you need. Visit rasmussen. Edu.

I'm Clayton Eckert. In 2022, I was the lead of ABC's The Bachelor.

But here's the thing, Bachelor fans hated him.

If I could press a button and rewind it all, I would.

That's when his life took a disturbing turn. A one-night stand would end in a courtroom. The media is here.

This case has gone viral.

The dating contract.

Agree to date me, but I'm also suing you. This is unlike anything I've ever seen before.

I'm Stephanie Young. Listen to Love Trapped on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

On the adventures of Curiosity Cove podcast, when peanut butter disappears from school, Ella, Scout, and Leila launch a full detective mission. Their search leads them back in time to meet a brilliant inventor whose curiosity changed the world. In this Black History Month adventure, asking questions, thinking creatively, me can lead to amazing discoveries. Listen to adventures of Curiosity Cove every Monday from the Black Effect podcast network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Hi, it's Jill Winterstein, host of the spirit daughter podcast, where we talk about astrology, natal charts, and how to step into your most vibrant life. And today I'm talking with my dear friend, Krista Williams.

It can change you in the best way possible. Dance with the change, dance with the breakdowns.

The embodiment of Pisces intuition with Capricorn power moves.

I'm delusionally proud of my chart.

Listen to the spirit daughter podcast starting on February 24th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to your podcast. This is an iHeart podcast, Guaranteed Human.