News

May 20, 2008

Hazleton’s Carbe gets 16 to 32 years in sexual assault of girl

By Steve Mocarsky smocarsky@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

WILKES-BARRE – After hearing two physicians, a priest and other character witnesses testify on behalf of Raymond F. Carbe Jr. at his sentencing Monday, a judge heard from the 15-year-old girl whom the successful Hazleton music store owner pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting over a four-month period.

The girl told the judge when her classmates found out, they made up songs about her and teased her until she “broke down in front of the entire school.” She testified she began cutting herself, was suicidal and wakes up some nights screaming and crying because of nightmares.

And then Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael Toole sentenced Carbe, 41, of East Walnut Street, Hazleton, to 16 to 32 years in state prison on one count of indecent deviate sexual intercourse and two counts of aggravated indecent assault of a victim less than 16 years old, to be served consecutively.

The girl was 14 when the crimes occurred.

Hazleton police Detective James Dixon, who attended the hearing and was an arresting officer in the case, provided a copy of the girl’s victim impact statement at a press conference in Hazleton.

“I was really shocked that she was able to actually stand there and confront (Carbe) and address the court the way she did. She showed a lot of courage,” Dixon said.

Carbe was first charged by Hazleton police with two counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, and one count each of aggravated indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor, endangering the welfare of children, indecent assault and corruption of minors on Oct. 10. A day later, he was free on $100,000 bail.

In November, Carbe was charged with identical counts by Plains Township police after an investigation revealed that incidents occurred in both municipalities.

The initial arrest came after the girl’s mother told police she discovered e-mails containing sexual overtones on her daughter’s computer and voice mails and text messages on her daughter’s cell phone from Carbe.

Hazleton police questioned the girl, who claimed Carbe sexually assaulted her inside his residence and at his business – C&C Music Center on South Pine Street.

Police later learned that Carbe assaulted the girl in his 2001 GMC van behind a pharmacy on South River Street in Plains Township.

Dixon said the district attorney dropped the lesser charges and kept the most serious during a plea meeting, and Carbe agreed to forfeit his van and two computers.

“We already went through the computers and the van. There is no evidence to make us believe that any other children were involved. I believe and I hope this is an isolated incident,” Dixon said.

Carbe also had to go through a state psychological testing program to determine if he is a sexual predator or if the incident was isolated. Dixon said the examiners believe it was an isolated incident and that Carbe is not a predator.

Still, Toole ordered that Carbe receive psychiatric treatment and sentenced him to lifetime registration as a sexual offender under the provisions of Megan’s Law.

Dixon was pleased with the sentencing. He believes Toole was moved by the girl’s statement.

“Ray brought several character witnesses for him including two doctors, a priest … several friends and other business owners in the Hazleton area who spoke about his character, reputation. Then the (victim) spoke,” Dixon said.

“It was so powerful. Victims have come up and testified before at sentencing. But I was shocked that the (15-year-old) victim was able to stand there and address the court with Mr. Carbe in the courtroom. It showed extreme courage on her behalf and I think she did a fine job,” he said.

The girl began her statement by explaining why she had sex with Carbe.

“I was so happy to be with him that I would have done anything to keep him around, and well … I guess that’s what I did. … I made a mistake when I made him my everything. … No one could ever imagine the pain that comes from what I went through for many, many months. The pain of knowing that he doesn’t love me is the greatest pain I’ve ever felt,” she said.

Dixon said that since Carbe’s arrest, the girl has been “in and out of at least three hospitals” because of emotional trauma.

“I don’t believe she’s able to attend the same school she was in. … Her mom said she wakes up with nightmares, screaming in the middle of the night, the poor girl. This is something that’s going to follow her the rest of her life,” he said.

Steve Mocarsky, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 459-2005.

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