Saunders gets 8 1/2 years; stepdaughter speaks out

Before she was sentenced to nearly 8 1/2 years in prison for abusing her stepdaughter, a Redmond woman sat in court Tuesday as the young survivor made a tearful, dramatic statement, telling her stepmother, “I’m not afraid of you any more.”

Michelle Saunders, 42, had stopped her trial halfway through last Friday by pleading guilty to over a dozen charges, including second-degree assault for strangling Nichol Saunders with a belt.

Because of that felony, she must serve nearly six years (70 months) of her 101-month sentence without time off for good behavior. She could earn some time off after that.

On the fifth day of her scheduled eight-day trial, Saunders pleaded guilty to 16 felony counts of abuse. She was originally charged with 89.

Because of the abrupt move, Nichol Saunders, now 19, was not able to take to the witness stand as planned. Tuesday morning was her only time to speak in court about her abuser, whom she moved in with several years ago.

She also talked to NewsChannel 21, as an abuse survivor, and agreed to have her name used; news policies usually preclude naming abuse victims.

Nichol Saunders said it was difficult to come forward, but when she heard news that Michelle Saunders was living with minors, she felt compelled to speak out.

“The cycle had to end, and I knew it was me,” Nichol Saunders said.

Michelle Saunders’ two younger brothers also spoke out. At her sentencing, they talked about years of abuse that she put them through. They said it was a pattern that didn’t end with them.

“She was systematically and emotionally abused and I don’t even have a charge for that,” Deputy District Attorney Van McIver said.

McIver described a list of abuse that included withholding food, strangling her with a belt, holding a knife to her throat and striking her in the face.

But he said the worst things Michelle Saunders did to her stepdaughter — the systematic, emotional abuse, affecting the rest of her life — were not reflected in the formal charges. He also said it was a strong case and there is little chance for Michelle Saunders to appeal her sentence

“I know my anger is your strength, so I will not allow it in my life any more,” Nichol Saunders told her stepmother in court. “I will not allow you to have power (over) me.”

Both of Michelle Saunders’ brothers said she enjoyed abusing her power over those weaker than her.

Many of the counts filed against her were found in seven journals written by Nichol Saunders. The journals spanned four years of abuse.

“In the first journal, happy and bubbly and drawing pictures and by the end, just wanted to die,” McIver told Deschutes County Circuit Judge Wells Ashby.

Nichol Saunders said every day is a fight, but she is a fighter.

“I’m not afraid of you any more,” Nichol Saunders said. “I’m afraid you won’t change.”

In court, she also showed forgiveness to her abuser.

“You may have loved me, but I don’t know,” Nichol Saunders said. “I love you, and I will always love you. I’m using your evil for good, because I’m not a victim, I’m a survivor.”

Nichol Saunders sat down after she spoke to applause from several people in the courtroom.

Michelle Saunders maintained her silence and gave up her her right to address the court before she was sentenced and was taken in chains out of the room.