Mass. woman sentenced for sexually abusing infant who was in her care

BOSTON (TCD) -- A 26-year-old woman will spend 17 years in prison for sexually abusing and exploiting a young child who was in her care.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Judge Dennis Saylor IV sentenced Desiree Daigle to a 17-year term, plus five years of supervised release. Daigle pleaded guilty in June to a sexual exploitation charge.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Daigle and Thomas Cross were arrested Nov. 15, 2018, after federal officials executed a search warrant at Cross' home and found electronic devices containing child pornography files and chats between the two. The images reportedly showed an infant at Daigle’s home, and the messages reportedly showed them discussing "plans for Cross to meet the child in person so that they can sexually abuse the child together."

Cross was reportedly re-arrested in 2020 after he violated pretrial release conditions.

According to Mass Live, Daigle reportedly took pictures of the child’s genitals, and she and Cross reportedly talked about bringing the infant to a hotel "for his own sexual gratification."

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins said in the statement after Daigle’s sentencing, "There are no words to adequately capture how truly reprehensible this conduct is. Ms. Daigle violated the trust placed in her by a friend and sexually abused a defenseless infant in her care. That she documented the abuse for the perverse gratification of herself and others is truly disgusting. Ms. Daigle is a danger to our communities and deserves every single day of this prison sentence."

Special Agent in Charge of Boston’s FBI Division Joseph Bonavolonta called Daigle’s actions "heinous" and "depraved."

He said, "The actions of Desiree Daigle were beyond heinous. She violated the trust placed in her by her friends and sexually exploited a baby in her care. No child should ever be subjected to this, and no sentence can erase the harm inflicted upon this child and her family."

Mass Live reports the infant’s mother said in court, "Even though four years have passed, I will never heal completely from the pain, deceit, and trauma," adding, "I regretted and hate myself for letting my child be watched by this monster."

Daigle reportedly apologized for her actions and said she suffered her own sexual abuse when she was younger.

Saylor said, "It is hard to know where to begin, but I will begin with the crime, which is horrible. It is hard to talk or think calmly or rationally about. The defendant participated in the sexual exploitation not just of a minor but a baby. Not just a baby, but a family member in her own custody."

He added, "She violated and betrayed the trust of the person in her life to whom she was possibly the closest."

MORE:

• Salisbury Woman Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting an Infant in Her Care - U.S. Attorney's Office for District of Massachusetts
• Salisbury Woman Pleads Guilty to Sexually Exploiting an Infant in Her Care, 6/27/2020 - U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts
• Amesbury Man and Salisbury Woman Arrested for Child Pornography Offenses, Including Production, 11/21/2018 - U.S. Attorney's Office for District of Massachusetts
• Amesbury Man Previously Charged with Child Pornography Offenses Re-Arrested for Violating Conditions of Release, 6/4/2020 - U.S. Attorney's Office for District of Massachusetts
• Desiree Daigle, who sexually exploited baby in her care, gets 17 years - Mass Live