Florida Woman Gets Prison for Sex Crimes

(Crystal River, Florida) In September 2005, a 31-year-old mother of two, Sherry Nicole Fowler, was arrested for engaging in drug-induced sex with a 14-year-old Citrus County girl and showing her pornography.

Also accused was Fowler's former boyfriend, Michael Lane, 30, who gave the girl methamphetamine and ecstasy. Both Fowler and Lane were charged with lewd and lascivious conduct, showing obscene material to a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Lane's case remains to be decided.

This week, Fowler was sentenced to seven years in prison in accordance with a plea deal. She will also serve two years drug and sexual offender probation after release from prison. Deborah Whitley, Fowler's mother, asked Judge Ric Howard to show mercy because her daughter was a good mother and had never been in trouble before.

Assistant State Attorney Deborah Hunt then asked, "Who was taking care of her children in the three days she was getting high and having sexual relations with a minor?" Defense attorney Dale Merrill said Fowler was under the influence of Lane and that women do dumb things for men all the time.

In the end, Fowler apologized and expressed regret. Judge Howard then imposed the sentence and told Fowler, "I sincerely hope that nobody ever does this to your children."