La Pine man gets 25 years for sexual abuse of child

(Update: Comments in court by victim’s mother, Starbuck)

A 38-year-old La Pine man was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for sexual abuse of a child at an emotional hearing.

Deschutes County Circuit Judge Wells Ashby imposed the sentence on Derek Gale Starbuck, who was arrested in April 2017 and initially faced 26 charges of raping and abusing a victim younger than 12.

According to the prosecution, the abuse happened in 2016 and 2017.

Under a plea agreement reached with prosecutors, Starbuck was convicted of first-degree sexual abuse, two counts of first-degree sodomy and two counts of first-degree attempted unlawful sexual penetration.

The victim’s mother told the judge her life and her children’s lives were permanently impacted.

“I still don’t fully understand the layers of betrayal, deceit, manipulation and abuse that were happening in our home,” she said. “And I’m here today because I want you to clearly understand that financially, physically and emotionally, we’ve been devastated by one man.”

The victim’s mother also said she was not happy with the plea deal that Starbuck received.

Starbuck looked straight ahead at Ashby as he read his statement to the packed courtroom.

“My actions have been wrong, and I promise to make all of the necessary changes. The love and support you have showed for both families I appreciate very much, and I want to say that I’m sorry,” Starbuck said.

After the sentencing, District Attorney John Hummel issued this statement:

“Derek Starbuck is a morally depraved person who deserves the prison sentence he received. What he did to this young girl was heinous and unconscionable. I’m proud of the top-notch investigation performed by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s office and Deputy District Attorney Brandi Shroyer and the support provided to the victim by Victims’ Advocate Debbi Wise.

“By resolving this case short of trial, we ensured Starbuck received a long prison sentence and we spared the child the trauma of having to testify at trial,” Hummel said.