CAñON CITY — Brenda Harding, accused of having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old boy who later committed suicide, on Monday was sentenced to 90 days in jail and 10 years to life on probation. She must also register as a sex-offender.
District Court Judge Julie G. Marshall said she was not sentencing Harding, 30, for the boy’s death.
“While my heart goes out to the family in this case, I can’t sentence her for his choice to kill himself,” Marshall said. “I am sentencing her for sexual assault on a child.”
After an investigation into the April suicide of Tristen Hagen, Harding was charged with three felony counts of sexual assault on a child. An arrest affidavit for Harding indicated evidence of sexual contact between her and the boy dating to June, 2010.
On Aug. 8, Harding pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault on a child.
Tristen, who lived in Buena Vista, was visiting his father in Cañon City when he was reported missing on April 2. His body was found April 4.
Toxicology tests indicated Tristen died from a multiple drug overdose.
About 25 of Tristen’s family members and friends were present for the sentencing. His stepfather, Marlo Padilla, and father, Mike Hagen addressed the court.
Hagen said his son’s death was a direct result of his relationship with Harding.
“We found his lifeless body on a hill,” Hagen said. “She was told by me and other people to leave him alone. We don’t want to see this happen to anyone else.”
District Attorney Thom LeDoux said Harding’s disregard of Tristan’s family’s demands to stay away from the boy causes him to question her ability to conform to rules of probation, and he recommended she be sentenced to prison.
“Tristen could not deal with the relationship and the relationship ending, and within 24 hours, Tristen was dead,” LeDoux said. “This is the perfect illustration why we have these laws to protect young people in the community.”
LeDoux also read a letter from Tristen’s sister, Tiara Roberts, who said Harding “was told on several occasions to stay away from my brother.”
Harding’s mother, Deannette Knight, pleaded with the court for an opportunity to bring her daughter home so she could have “a chance in the adult world.”
In court, before she was sentenced, Harding apologized to Tristen’s family.
“I’m sorry for what has happened, not only because his life is gone,” she said. “He was a friend of mine, and it went beyond that.”
Paul Isenstadt, LCSW, said based on psychosexual evaluations and other tests, Harding is not a sexually violent predator and is a low risk to re-offend.
Most of Tristen’s family walked out of the courtroom before Marshall gave her official ruling.
Harding’s jail sentence began Monday. After she is released, she must register as a sex offender. She also is to have no contact with anyone under the age of 18, including her own two children, until a risk assessment can be completed.
