FREDERICK WOMAN TO SERVE 40 YEARS FOR SEX ABUSE OF A MINOR (x2), AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY – PERMIT TO ENGAGE AS SEX SUBJECT
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 27, 2026
FREDERICK WOMAN TO SERVE 40 YEARS FOR SEX ABUSE OF A MINOR (x2), AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY – PERMIT TO ENGAGE AS SEX SUBJECT
Frederick, MD – Today in Frederick County Circuit Court, Judge Richard Sandy sentenced 53-year-old Rebecca Wightman to 60 years, with all but 40 years suspended, in the Division of Corrections for two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor and one count of Production of Child Pornography – Permit a Child to Engage as Subject in a Sex Act. The Defendant entered a guilty plea to these three counts before the Court on February 4, 2026. Sentencing was postponed until today’s date for evaluations to be conducted, including a required Pre-Sentence Investigation and Risk Assessment. This 40-year active sentence exceeded the Maryland Sentencing Guidelines and was imposed based on the ongoing, pervasive nature of the offenses, the substantial impact on the victim, the Defendant’s lack of remorse, and her continued attempt to blame the victim for her offenses. This is a 50% parole-required sentence. The Defendant received credit for time-served in the Frederick County Detention Center since August 14, 2025.
Upon release, the Defendant will be on five years of supervised probation with the Sex Offender Management Team. The Defendant is required to Register as a Tier III Sex Offender, which mandates lifetime registration. She is also required to be on Lifetime Sex Offender Supervision.
On August 10, 2025, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a sex offense, which occurred in the past. Police were shown video evidence of the Defendant performing a sexual act on a juvenile victim, which was created at the Defendant’s direction. The juvenile was interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center and detailed ongoing sexual abuse involving approximately ten separate acts of sexual abuse within the year. In a controlled call recorded by police, the Defendant admitted the sexual abuse of the victim and indicated a desire to engage in further sexual abuse of the victim. The Defendant also admitted the offenses in an interview with police, but blamed the victim in her interview, in jail calls, and in the evaluations that were conducted pre-sentence.
A Victim Impact Statement, which was written by the Victim and the Victim’s Representative, was read in Court, detailing the impact of this ongoing abuse: “She destroyed his understanding of love. She taught him that manipulation was affection. That guilt was loyalty. That exploitation was normal.”
The Victim’s Representative spoke directly to the Court noting, “Nothing this Court does today can restore what she stole. But this Court can do something profoundly important. It can tell this young man that the truth matters. That his voice matters. That what happened to him matters. And that no one…is beyond accountability when they choose to prey upon [a] child… Her influence over his life ends here. His future begins now.”
State’s Attorney Charlie Smith stated, “Today’s sentence delivers accountability for a pattern of abuse that caused profound harm to a child. This outcome affirms that the victim’s voice matters and that in Frederick County, we will act decisively to protect children and pursue justice against those who prey upon them. I am grateful for the sentence imposed by Judge Sandy, the bravery of the victim, the work of our dedicated prosecutor Erin Pearl, and our law enforcement partners whose efforts brought the truth to light.”
This conviction and sentence was the result of the cooperative efforts of the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, Child Protective Services, the Child Advocacy Center, and the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office. The State of Maryland was represented by Assistant State’s Attorney, Erin Pearl, Special Victims Unit.
Press Contact:
Jacqueline Rottmann
Court Media Relations Officer
301-600-2972
100 West Patrick Street
Frederick, Maryland 21701
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