Assault Victims Devise Sentence for Child Molester: Pack Up and Get Out of Town

The victims of a convicted child molester devised part of his punishment: Sell your house and get out of town.

“We can see him drive by every day. . . . We’d just like to see him move because it would make things a lot easier in the healing process,” said one victim, Becky Winstead, 16. She and her parents agreed that her name could be published.

Sheldon Stephens of suburban Bloomington, an antiques salesman and father of four, was accused of sexually assaulting three girls. He pleaded guilty in December to first-degree criminal sexual conduct in a 1985 assault involving Winstead, who was then 9 years old.

A 65-month prison sentence was stayed after Stephens agreed to sell the house he lived in for 20 years and leave town.

Stephens also agreed to serve a year in jail, complete a treatment course for sex offenders and pay for such things as the counseling costs of his victims. He began serving time in early February, immediately after sentencing by Hennepin County District Judge Myron Greenberg.

Prosecutor Fred Karasov said he realizes the unusual plea agreement shifts a problem from one community to another, but noted that Stephens, 61, will get psychiatric treatment in jail and after he is released.

“Our focus of concern was more with the victims. We had to get him out of the city for the victims’ sake,” he said.

Greenberg said any violation of Stephens’ 20-year probation would put him in prison for 65 months.

“It’s not like we’re sending a known active sex offender to another community,” defense attorney Tom Bauer said. “There’s no allegation that he committed another sex offense in the last six years.”

“Hopefully, that (treatment) will do something for him. And he’ll be on probation so he’ll be watched closely,” said Winstead.

Working with the prosecutor and advocates for sexual assault victims, the three victims were consulted on what plea arrangements they preferred. Stephens had to agree to the punishment.

Bauer said that before Stephens was approached about leaving the home, “He approached me and asked if it would help resolve the case if he sold his house and moved out of Bloomington.”

Stephens pleaded guilty to assaulting Becky Winstead, who didn’t decide to press charges until last spring.

Before then, she tried to cover her shame by trying to be a perfect athlete and perfect student, she said at the sentencing.

But at the same time, she said, she was contemplating suicide and waking up with nightmares.

Looking at Stephens, Becky said, “You took away my childhood and my trust . . . you ruined my life.”

“This is the first time I’ve known what they’re going through. I’m going to work very hard to get my mind clear,” Stephens said.