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Editor’s Note: This story contains discussions of rape or sexual assault that may be disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can find help and discreet resources on the National Sexual Assault Hotline website or by calling 1-800-656-4673.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A judge sentenced a man to 35 years to life in prison in a Las Vegas sex trafficking case Tuesday.
Richard Babb, 24, appeared to take no responsibility and showed no remorse for his crimes moments before Clark County District Court Judge Michelle Leavitt sentenced him.
“I’m a warrior,” Babb said. “I’m a survivor.”
A jury found Babb guilty of 10 counts on April 15. Nine of the charges including two counts of sex trafficking a child under 16 years of age, two counts of soliciting a child for prostitution, two counts of luring children or mentally ill persons with the intent to engage in sexual conduct, sex trafficking a child under 14 years of age, sexual assault with a minor under 14 years of age, and first-degree kidnapping of a minor are felonies. Statutory sexual seduction is a gross misdemeanor.
“I want the world to know what’s going on,” Babb said Tuesday, claiming he was wronged by the justice system and that prosecutors were out to get him. “They try to portray me to be this heinous, evil, corrupted person.”
Babb also blamed his previous attorneys.
Prosecutor Morgan Lombardo argued for a sentence of 57 years to life in prison, and said each of Babb’s four victims deserve time served for them. She said Babb left one underage girl on Tropicana Avenue, a well-known corridor for prostitution, to have sex with adults so he could collect the money. Babb met two victims, ages 12 and 13, on Snapchat to try to sell them marijuana, according to Lombardo.
“He was the adult to go into the children’s home to collect them to give him a blowjob,” Lombardo said.
Babb belched out loud in the courtroom as Lombardo spoke.
Babb and his attorney Tom Ericsson argued for a new trial because some of Babb’s loved ones were not allowed inside the courtroom during Babb’s trial. Leavitt held a hearing on the issue on Jan. 31, and heard testimony from attorneys and court staff about the family’s behavior. Prosecutors said family members were disruptive and made threats.
Babb’s loved ones told him they loved him as he was escorted out of the courtroom Tuesday.
