A Florida husband and wife — both of whom had been practicing lawyers — have been disbarred after making a no-contest plea in a case in which they were accused of sexually assaulting their longtime babysitter.
Gabriel and Sarah Warren, both 40, were arrested March 12, 2023. They both were charged with a count of sexual battery.
Investigators had the woman’s clothing tested for DNA, which came back as a match of the Warrens.
In June, the Warrens pleaded no contest to one count each of unlawful use of a two-way wireless communications device to facilitate or further the commission of any felony in Leon County Circuit Court.
The Warrens were sentenced to 15 days in county jail followed by four years on state probation.
They were disbarred by the Florida Bar this week.
The Florida Bar stated Thursday, “Married Florida attorneys Gabriel and Sarah Warren have been disciplined by the Florida Supreme Court over their behavior with their regular babysitter in March 2023. Both have received interim felony suspensions as attorneys from the state Supreme Court after their no-contest pleas in Leon County Circuit Court.”
According to the Palm Beach Post, “Disbarred lawyers may not reapply for admission for five years and are required to undergo a rigorous background check, as well as retake the Bar exam.”
The victim — an adult — said she was subjected to sexual abuse on March 10, 2023.
The Miami Herald reported that the babysitter told police that when the couple returned home that night, Sarah was “super drunk.” Sarah allegedly changed into a “very provocative” nightgown without underwear on, and then sat on the couch next to the babysitter.
Sarah Warren straddled the babysitter, kissed her, and then told her that the couple had been sexually desiring her for months, according to a probable cause affidavit.
“[The victim] told Sarah she was uncomfortable and this was her job repeatedly,” the arrest report states.
The victim told investigators she tried to get off the couch several times, but the married couple would block or forcefully push her back down on the couch.
‘I deeply regret violating your trust by initiating sexual acts on March 10, 2023, and make no excuses for what I did.’
The victim “told Sarah several times she did not want to stay,” the probable cause affidavit reads.
“Sarah told Gabriel to make her want to stay. Gabriel began touching [her] through the leggings. [The babysitter] believed Gabriel noticed [she] was uncomfortable and would back off, but Sarah would tell him to do things, and he would, including kissing and touching her in several places,” according to the probable cause affidavit.
The Tallahassee Democrat reported in March that the babysitter sent a text message to her ex-boyfriend during the incident that read: “SOS.”
The babysitter eventually got out of the house and immediately phoned a family friend to tell him what had happened. He reportedly told police that the victim was crying and sounded like she was hyperventilating.
He allegedly informed investigators that the babysitter said she “kept trying to force her way out, but everywhere she went she kept being confronted by the Warrens.”
A couple of weeks after the alleged sexual assault, the Warrens exchanged text messages regarding how they both had not “heard anything” from the babysitter and used a clenched-teeth emoji, according to court documents.
Investigators had the woman’s clothing tested for DNA, which came back as a match of the Warrens.
Sarah Warren issued an apology to the victim in court.
“Reflecting on my actions, which I now understand was [sic] completely unacceptable, I deeply regret violating your trust by initiating sexual acts on March 10, 2023, and make no excuses for what I did,” she said.
Gabriel added, “While my actions can’t be taken back, please know that I am remorseful and embarrassed by my actions on that night. I see now the harmful effects that my actions had on you. Though I would not presume to understand the depth of your feelings about that night, I know that I hurt you, and I’m sorry.”
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