A Message of Hope for Survivors
A Woman’s Journey to Radical Acceptance
She had waited more than five years for this.
The man who had abused her and another person when they were minors — she a teenager, the other person just 5 years old — was finally being sentenced.
And while Christopher Negrete was given a lesser sentence under a plea deal, the woman still spoke of hope in her statement to the judge.
Addressing “those who have never been heard or believed,” she assured them that “above all else, there is such beauty on the other side of all the grief and misery that has been placed at our feet by the people who only wish to hurt us.”
The woman – who asked only to be referred to by her first name, Bee – said her journey these last few years has been one of “radical acceptance.”
The Road to Sentencing
It was in spring 2019 that Negrete, now 48, was charged with multiple counts of criminal sexual assault and possession of child pornography.
He could have been sentenced to over four decades in prison. Instead, Negrete accepted a plea deal this fall and was sentenced to 28 years.
While it was not the sentence she expected, Bee said she has found solace in the fact that Negrete will not be able to harm anyone else.
“None of this is great, and nothing’s gonna make anyone feel any better,” Bee told the Sun-Times. “It’s not gonna take away any of the harm that’s been caused.”
The Journey to Justice
In March 2019, Negrete’s girlfriend discovered at least five images of child porn on his phone — including some depicting children younger than 5. She turned Negrete in to police, and he was charged with possession of child pornography of a person under the age of 13.
Bee read the coverage of the charges and went to the police with her own story: Negrete had taken pornographic images and sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager almost 20 years ago.
During this time, Negrete’s former girlfriend also learned he had sexually assaulted her 5-year-old daughter.
A month later, Negrete was charged with two counts of criminal sexual assault and an additional count of child pornography. He was ordered held without bail.
Bee and the others would have to wait five years to see Negrete held accountable.
Conclusion
Bee’s journey to radical acceptance has been marked by pain, anger, and grief, but also by hope and resilience. Her message to fellow survivors is one of empowerment and encouragement: there is beauty on the other side of grief, and she hopes that others will join her there.
FAQs
Q: What was the outcome of the sentencing?
A: Christopher Negrete was sentenced to 28 years in prison under a plea deal.
Q: How long did Bee wait for justice?
A: Bee waited over five years for Negrete to be held accountable.
Q: What message did Bee want to convey to fellow survivors?
A: Bee wanted to assure fellow survivors that there is beauty on the other side of grief and that they are not alone in their journey to healing and recovery.
