Kids & Family
Dad Who Molested Daughter Sick With Brain Tumor Won't Spend a Day in Prison
After pleading guilty, Jeremy Schwer learned he would avoid prison for sexually abusing his cancer-stricken 6 year old in her hospital bed.
INDIANAPOLIS — A father who sexually molested his 6-year-old daughter — as she endured chemotherapy and radiation to fight off a rare, cancerous brain tumor — will avoid years of prison time for his felonious acts.
A prosecutor wanted to send Jeremy Schwer, 41, of Indianapolis, to prison for nine years to account for his unspeakable crimes. But a judge acceded this week to an unusual request for leniency made by the child’s mom.
Schwer and his wife would alternate nights taking care of their little girl, sleeping in her bed as she fought off the disease that took root in her head in 2013.
Little did Mommy suspect, however, a sickness took root in her daughter’s bed, too, as night after night the father touched her pubic area, forced his child to touch him sexually and made her sit on his penis, according to court records.
Dad’s molesting began in her hospital bed at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, specialists in childhood cancers.
The hospital does its best to comfort children facing painful disease, surgery and treatment. The hospital clinics include a play room, doggie visits and kiddie carnivals, face-painting games and SpongeBob SquarePants. Meanwhile, doctors and nurses work ‘round the clock trying to save them.
At night, however, this little girl was betrayed by the one person in the world who should have protected her from anything and everything.
Reports IndyStar.com:
Schwer was charged in 2015 after his now-estranged wife called the Indiana Department of Child Services. Their daughter, then 6 years old, told her mother that she had touched her father’s “peepeeluca,” the family’s word for private parts, according to court records. The little girl later told officials that her father also touched her “peepeeluca” and had her sit on his “cat tail.”
The girl, now 7, said her father told her not to tell or he would go to jail, court records state. She eventually told her mother it happened every night when she slept with her father.
All the while, Schwehr would pose for photographs with his ailing daughter and family at hospital kids fairs.
Schwer pleaded guilty on Tuesday.
“This is the most horrific circumstance of a child molest case that I’ve ever seen,” said Deputy Prosecutor Courtney Curtis.
The little girl was terribly ill, according to posts on a YouCaring compassionate fundraising page set up to raise money for her medical expenses.
August 30, 2013. Worst day to date. Neurologist explains that (name withheld), age 5, has been losing her words and memory as a result of a primary brain tumor. Devastated. All light had gone from our lives and hearts.
In early 2014, due to the aggressive nature of the little girl’s cancer, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Disney hurried up plans to bring the family to Disney World to spend time with the Disney princesses. Make-A-Wish presented her with a princess castle of her very own for her bedroom.
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In a letter, the mom asked the judge not to send Schwer to prison because she desperately needs money to support her two children. She and Schwer have a younger daughter, as well. Marion Superior Court Magistrate Steven Rubick agreed to her request, imposing a sentence of 12 years probation and counseling.
Schwer has been out of work ever since his arrest and has not been supporting his family.
His attorney told the Indianapolis Star that Schwer intends to find a job.
This week, the judge told Schwer he needs move out of the family home, where he’s been living alone — with the princess castle — ever since his wife turned him in and left with the kids.
The little girl misses her princess castle.
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