Couple sentenced to 20 years for sex abuse

Chicago couple who admitted they sexually abused two children repeatedly, a judge Friday reluctantly accepted the deal.
After hearing testimony from an Indiana Department of Child Services case manager and a foster mother about the trauma of the victims having to relive the events in depositions and trial testimony, Lake Superior Court Judge Salvador Vasquez reluctantly agreed to the plea.
"I accept the plea because I won't do that to the children," Vasquez said.
Marco Antonio Arroyo, 42, and Lorrainne Mary Rowell, 41, admitted they had sex with the children numerous times between October 2013 and June 2014. The crimes occurred when one of the victims was 10 and the other was 12.
 Erica Rios, a DCS family case manager involved in the case since 2014, said the children suffered an intense level of trauma.
"Both of the children have a lot of anger to deal with," Rios said.
One child had thoughts of suicide after being sexually abused by both Arroyo and Rowell and continues to have a number of mental health issues as a result, said Pastor Saundra Williams, a foster mother of one of the children.
"He will be damaged for the rest of his life," she said.
 Deputy prosecutor Nadia Chivers described Arroyo and Rowell as "two of the most despicable and vile human beings to ever set foot in this court" and urged the judge to accept the plea agreement, which occurred after consultation with the children's caregivers.
"This is what is best for the children," she said.
Defense attorney Shane O'Donnell said Arroyo has accepted responsibility for his actions.
Rowell's attorney, Samuel Vazanellis, said Rowell is remorseful for her actions and was willing to testify against Arroyo, who faces deportation after he completes his sentence.
"I am not a monster," Arroyo told Vasquez.
"You are a monster," Vasquez replied. "You are a horrible person for what you've done to them."