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UTAH STATE PRISON -- Heidi Hafen was 7 years old when she was sexually abused by her uncle. The abuse lasted for several years and led to a suicide attempt.
"It's turned everything upside down because I'm now in intensive therapy to regain feeling like I deserve to be alive," Hafen said.
In 2002, Brent Don Young was sentenced to up to 20 years in prison for forcible sex abuse and attempted sexual abuse of a child.
After serving less than half that time, he will be released to a halfway house this month.
"The punishment really does not fit the crime here," Hafen said.
After Young's third and last parole hearing on July 9, 2009, the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole set his release date for March 8 of this year. Young is still in prison, awaiting a room at the halfway house.
Hafen is outraged because she believes her uncle will re-offend.
"We feel like the Board of Pardons has really let us down," Hafen said.
Hafen was one of nearly 10 victims, including Young's daughter, who came forward about the abuse. She says Young's impending release from prison is an injustice to all of them.
"Especially being a police officer, who wore the badge, wore the shield, was supposed to protect and serve," Hafen said. "He did anything but protect and serve."
At his parole hearing in 2009, Young -- who once worked for the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office -- made a tearful apology to his victims.
"I'm sorry for what I've done. I can't take any of it back," Young said at the time.
At the hearing Young said he wanted to better himself with more treatment and counseling.
"I know I'm not curable, but I do believe I have changed and I believe I can stay on the right track and get out and succeed," Young said.
The Board of Pardons agreed. In prison, Young completed sex offender treatment. When he's released he will enter another intensive program at a halfway house.
"In ordering him to complete these programs, the Board of Pardons recognizes the serious deviance of his offenses committed against children and the absolute need to modify his future conduct. Research and experience show that offenders who complete such programs pose a greatly diminished risk for re-offense," said spokesman Jim Hatch in a written statement.
To further public safety, Young will be required to register as a sex offender, participate in Aftercare treatment, will be prohibited contact with children and will be under parole supervision until his case expires in 2021.
Hafen says that isn't enough. She says she knows of other victims who are too scared to come forward, and she fears there will be more.
She offers a warning to others: "You need to protect your children. You need to protect yourselves. You need to do everything you can do to make sure that you see his face, know his name and know what he's capable of," Hafen said.
KSL tried to contact Young in prison but he declined to make a statement.
E-mail: syi@ksl.com
