Casper-Mann is sentenced to 20 years in prison for child sexual abuse

CASPER, Wyo. – James Maxwell Brite will spend 20 years behind bars for sexually abusing five children, according to sentences handed down Wednesday in Natrona County District Court.

However, the five children and their families and friends will face prison sentences for the rest of their lives because of the harm he caused them, they told Judge Catherine Wilking.

“This will stay with them for the rest of their lives,” Wilking said after the victims’ statements and before announcing the sentences, which will run concurrently: 13 to 15 years for a single count of third-degree sexual abuse of a minor and 18-20 years for four counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor.

The victims, some of whom were cared for by Brite, told the court he damaged their trust, faith and physical and mental health.

The gallery was filled with victims, family, friends and members of Bikers Against Child Abuse. A parent and an unrelated girl spoke to the court via video conference.

Several of the speakers expressed frustration with the lengthy investigation between the start of the case in 2018 and the arraignment and sentencing on Wednesday.

The affidavit supporting the criminal complaint states that the Natrona County Sheriff’s Office first received a report on September 28, 2018, about a girl who claimed Brite had done inappropriate things to her and called her “his little friend.” .

Subsequent reports and investigations resulted in a 23-count Criminal Information Document filed on August 21, 2023. The counts included lesser charges for individual alleged incidents.

In April, Brite entered an Alford plea to five counts, one for each victim. A criminal defendant enters into an Alford plea when he does not admit guilt but still pleads guilty as part of a plea agreement.

Assistant District Attorney Brandon Rosty told the court that the plea deal protected the victims from testifying in court and reliving their trauma.

Still, some parents and victims testified Wednesday about the ongoing trauma and other damage.

A parent told how a family member – British – did something that should never have been done and destroyed so much in the process. Brite had broken faith and trust, he said. Faith faded after the first year of the investigation, when his daughter reported the abuse, because he heard nothing for the next three years: “For us, it was done.” Five and a half years later, he received a call about Brite’s arrest. He praised the prosecution’s perseverance and stated that “faith has been restored” although his trust in people was still gone despite the help of others.

While holding a stuffed toy, one girl said it was quite difficult for her to describe how the abuse affected her, partly because no one believed her at first and called her a liar. “It made me think I was alone in the world; I didn’t know who I could trust,” she said. She used to be more curious about life and went out like she used to. “I lost a part of me. …Now that I’m here in this room, I’m coming to a conclusion. I have people who support me,” she said.

Another girl said Brite was her babysitter and the sexual abuse began when she was 4 years old. She said she told her father and he called her a liar, even though her mother believed her. “He touched me for years. … I’m finally happy that I’m getting the justice I never thought I would get,” she said.

A third girl said via video conference that she was five years old when the abuse began. Ten years later she suffers from panic attacks. “I continue to wake up with nightmares and flashbacks. … He told me he would hurt me if I told anyone,” she said.

A mother also said via video conference that her son finds it difficult to trust people after the incidents. He was afraid when people came after him and also struggled with substance abuse and nightmares, she said.

After they spoke, Rosty said Brite outlined each of the five counts and the need for the maximum sentences to run concurrently, as set forth in the plea agreement.

“The parents gave him their trust and he repeatedly abused that trust,” Rosty said, adding that Brite has neither accepted responsibility nor shown remorse for the abuse of victims from 2008 to 2022.

Rosty also said Brite posed an extreme safety risk to the community and was at high risk of reoffending.

However, public defender Dylan Rosalez argued for a lesser sentence of between five and 10 years. Brite had a history of drug and alcohol abuse, has a father who requires medical care, entered the juvenile justice system at age 12 and has a minimal criminal history, Rosalez said, adding that the defendant was given time he spent in prison should be taken into account.

Wilking asked Brite if he had anything to say and he shook his head.

The judge said neither probation nor the lower recommended sentences were appropriate.

Wilking acknowledged the victims’ impact statements and said she had always been impressed by the victims’ courage and strength, particularly when they were so young. “I’m always impressed that they’re not broken; They are experiencing tremendous turbulence,” she said.

Given the statement, Wilking added that Brite’s crimes were unimaginable. “I cannot understand how anyone can bully young people for their own sexual gratification,” she said.

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