RICHLAND — A Tri-Cities couple will spend decades in prison for sexually abusing a minor, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Washington.
Bret Michael Emineth, 41, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for engaging in years-long sexual abuse of a minor victim and recording images depicting the abuse, according to the statement. U.S. District Judge Mary Dimke also sentenced Emineth’s codefendant, Malesa Hale, 37, to 28 years for conspiring with Emineth to abuse the victim and record the abuse. Emineth, who began abusing the minor victim when the minor was only 12 years old, will also plead guilty to related charges in Benton County Superior Court.
“I simply cannot convey how horrendous this behavior is,” Dimke said from the bench, saying also that Emineth and Hale had inflicted “harm that will last for a lifetime.” Directly addressing the victim, Judge Dimke said: “You are brave. You are strong. You are courageous. You saved others from the hell that you were subjected to,” by reporting to law enforcement. Dimke added that if the victim had not come forward, there was no doubt that Emineth and Hale would have expanded their abuse to other children.