Mesa man accused of sexually assaulting babysitters found guilty

MESA, Ariz. - A jury has found a Mesa man guilty of sexual assault, kidnapping, sexual abuse, public sexual indecency, assault and kidnapping.

Dion Earl was arrested by Mesa Police in October 2017, accused of sexually abusing and assaulting an 18-year-old and a 21-year-old woman. Police say Earl had hired the women to babysit his children.

Earl showed no reaction Thursday as the guilty verdicts were read.

The conviction comes two years after two babysitters went to the police with similar stories. He lured them into a room in his Mesa home, held them against their will and sexually attacked them.

"12 people have seen what we already knew," said Elizabeth Ward, a mother of one of the victims. "He's off the streets. He can no longer hurt any other women, and I hope he gets the full, maximum sentence, stacked as long as possible."

The victims' parents say this is not just a victory for their daughter, who did not want to be identified, but a victory for several others from Arizona to Washington who claim they have fallen victim to Earl's unwanted sexual advances.

"I hope that they use this trial as a means to get justice for them," said Od Harris, stepfather of one of the victims. "I can truly say this is the West Coast Predator. He's disgusting."

Earl is the former owner of a professional indoor soccer team in Washington state. After his arrest in 2017, Washington State prosecutors re-opened their case against him, with a massage therapist accusing Earl of raping her while she was on the job. According to the victim's attorney, more than a dozen women have contacted him since the trial began, coming forward with similar claims going back more than 10 years.

"20 or more. We counted at least 20," said Harris. "Our cry is for all the victims to come forward. This is not this end. It's only the beginning."

Sentencing is scheduled for October 11. He could face up to 12 years in prison and be extradited to Washington to stand trial there for rape.

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