CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. – Kayla Thomas has been found guilty of all the charges against her in connection with committing sexual crimes against her then 2-year-old son in 2019.
The jury recommended she receive two life sentences, plus an additional 10 years in prison.
The life sentences are recommended on the object sexual penetration charge and the forcible sodomy charge. The jury then recommended 5 years each on the production of child pornography and distribution of child pornography charges.
Her formal sentencing is scheduled for September 23 at 9 a.m.
ORIGINAL
A Montgomery County woman is in court, charged with committing sexual crimes against her then 2-year-old son in 2019.
Kayla Thomas, 27, faces the following charges:
- Committing forcible sodomy by engaging in fellatio against the victim’s will by force, threat or intimidation
- Inanimate object penetration of a person less than 13 years of age
- Production of child pornography involving a child less than 15 years of age
- Possession and distribution of child pornography
Thomas’ boyfriend at the time of the accused crimes, McKenzie Hellman, was found guilty earlier this year of producing child porn, reproducing child porn, animate object sexual penetration, producing child porn and forcible sodomy.
While he is also charged with second-degree murder and a charge of child abuse and neglect in connection with the boy’s death, a trial date has not yet been set for those charges.
So far, the focus of the three-day trial has been about the different sexually explicit videos of Thomas and her son.
While the defense’s opening statement did not deny Thomas’ actions, her attorney said this case is about why Thomas did what she did. Her attorney said that Hellman is to blame and that Thomas didn’t have a choice as he mentally and physically abused her.
Her attorney also said that she was worried about the safety of her child, her unborn child and herself as she feared Hellman would kill her.
The defense has not yet questioned anyone.
The trial took a break for lunch at 12:45 p.m.
When court resumes, there should be three more witnesses to testify.
10 News has covered this case extensively. Read more from our coverage:
- Christiansburg man found guilty of sexually abusing girlfriend’s toddler son (Published March 15, 2021)
- Court date set for Christiansburg mother charged with making child porn, sexually assaulting her son (Published Aug. 20, 2020)
- Court date set for Christiansburg man accused of killing girlfriend’s toddler son (Published June 22, 2020)
- Christiansburg man accused of killing girlfriend’s toddler son indicted on 6 felony charges (Published Jan. 28, 2020)
- Hearing reveals alleged abuse New River Valley toddler faced before his death (Published Dec. 20, 2019)
- Christiansburg man accused of killing girlfriend’s toddler son deemed fit to stand trial (Published Oct. 25, 2019)
- Christiansburg mother charged in connection with toddler’s death expected to enter a plea (Published Oct. 16, 2019)
- Case continued for Christiansburg mother charged with sexually abusing her now-dead toddler (Published June 19, 2019)
- Mental evaluation ordered for Christiansburg man accused of killing his girlfriend’s toddler son (Published June. 3, 2019)
- Christiansburg man accused of killing toddler asks for sanity, competency evaluation (Published May 30, 2019)
- Christiansburg mother, boyfriend who police say sexually abused her 2-year-old son appear in court (Published Feb. 28, 2019)
- Boyfriend charged with murder, he and mother sexually abused 2-year-old, police say (Published Jan. 18, 2019)
- Mother of 2-year-old who died charged with making child porn, sexually assaulting children (Published Jan. 17, 2019)
- 2-year-old boy dies, Christiansburg man now faces child abuse charge (Published Jan. 14, 2019)