Carroll to serve life after victims speak their painUpdated: 2/26/2009 7:58 PM
By: Catie Beck
Former child advocate Billy Dan Carroll Thursday was sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting six child victims and one adult.
In a tearful, quivering voice Carroll apologized to his victims in court for the pain, hurt and rage he said that he caused by his actions.
As someone who worked and cared for foster children in Travis County, Carroll called his behavior “the ultimate betrayal.” He claimed to have had the perfect life, job and family. Carroll said he still can't believe himself and the things he has done.
"I was the neighbor next door, that's what made me so dangerous," Carroll said.
Carroll told the court that he wanted to get caught for his actions because he wanted his behavior to stop.
"I'm pleading guilty because I am guilty," he said.
District Judge Julie Kocurek called the case that shattered the trust of his victims and of Travis County “sad.”
"You did have it all Mr. Carroll," she said.
After the judge issued the sentence, victims were able to tell Carroll of their pain. Two mothers and two representatives of victims’ families spoke to Carroll.
One mother told Carroll that he had taken her family's kindness for weakness.
"It was like living in a nightmare," she said as she wept on the stand. "You are that nightmare, and they see it every day."
She said that she and her daughters moved to avoid Carroll and that she had gone into deep depression because she felt like a bad mother after her children told her how he'd harmed them.
Then she spoke for her daughters to Carroll.
"They wanted me to tell you how much they hate you," she said. "I will forever hate you."
Others who spoke expressed similar disgust.
"It gives us great relief to know you will take your last breath in a cement box," a member of a victim’s family said to Carroll.
Another victim's family chose to use their time to congratulate the detectives and lawyers who prosecuted the case.
"They deserve our community's support and thanks," she said. "Justice has worked."
Assistant Travis Country District Attorney Allison Wetzel said the case stresses the importance of listening to children, that the case was, in fact, broken because of a brave victim who told her story to an adult who then reported it.
Carroll's attorney, Bill Hines, reiterated Carroll's remorse and said it was his decision to agree to die in prison.
Carroll will serve five concurrent life sentences, followed by 40 years in prison for sexually assaulting children.
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