{"id":375442,"date":"2026-08-19T08:24:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T08:24:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/375442\/"},"modified":"2026-08-19T08:24:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T08:24:16","slug":"all-i-wanted-was-a-dad-miami-survivor-speaks-out-after-justice-system-leaves-her-feeling-silenced-local-news-updates-the-miami-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/375442\/","title":{"rendered":"‘All I wanted was a dad’: Miami survivor speaks out after justice system leaves her feeling silenced | Local News & Updates | The Miami Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cAll I wanted was a dad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Keisha Etienne was 9 years old when, she says, the man she had asked to fill that role began sexually abusing her.<\/p>\n

In 2019, more than two decades later, Etienne went to the police, overcoming a massive fear to do what survivors often struggle to: speak out. The first-generation Haitian American and school counselor didn’t want 90-year-old Albert Bassett imprisoned. She simply wanted him to acknowledge his crimes and be placed on Florida\u2019s sex offender registry.<\/p>\n

\"Young<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Keisha Etienne as a baby.\u00a0<\/p>\n

(Keisha Etienne )<\/p>\n

That never happened.<\/p>\n

In May 2024, Bassett, 90 at the time, pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse and received 10 years of probation, with no requirement to register as a sex offender.<\/p>\n

\"Keisha<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A photo from Keisha Etienne’s childhood. She is the young girl in white, located toward the front center.<\/p>\n

(Keisha Etienne )<\/p>\n

For Etienne, the outcome illustrates the uphill battle survivors face when navigating the justice system, particularly in Black, Brown and immigrant communities. The conclusion left her feeling silenced all over again.<\/p>\n

“It brought me back to 9 years old,” Etienne told The Miami Times. “It was demoralizing that after it took me years to find the strength to come forward, the outcome left me feeling silenced. It brought back the helplessness I felt as a child, when my pain went unacknowledged.”<\/p>\n

\"Keisha<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Keisha Etienne (left) in an old family picture.\u00a0<\/p>\n

(Keisha Etienne)<\/p>\n

With the case closed, Etienne is telling her story to encourage survivors to speak out, even when the system fails them.<\/p>\n

A case years in the making<\/p>\n

In a victim impact statement, Etienne recalled how Bassett, her aunt\u2019s boyfriend, entered her life around 1990, and how she asked him to be her father figure.<\/p>\n

\"Undated<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

An undated photo of Keisha Etienne as a teenager.<\/p>\n

(Keisha Etienne)<\/p>\n

\u201cBut that\u2019s not what I received,\u201d she wrote. \u201cInstead of love, affection, and support, I was met with lies, manipulation, grooming, abuse, and rape.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bassett persuaded Etienne’s mother that he and her aunt could provide a better life for her, since her mother was a single mom. He called Etienne \u201cdaughter\u201d and made \u201cpinky promises\u201d to keep the abuse secret.<\/p>\n

\"Keisha<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Keisha Etienne now.<\/p>\n

(Keisha Etienne )<\/p>\n

When Etienne finally reported Bassett to Golden Beach Police in 2019, prosecutors initially charged him with four counts of sexual battery on a minor and three counts of lewd and lascivious conduct.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe weight can feel heavier when you decide to go forward, and you may not feel as supported,\u201d Etienne said, \u201cespecially being a person of color, a minority \u2014 whether you\u2019re Latino, Haitian, Asian.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pandemic delays and turnover at the Miami-Dade State Attorney\u2019s Office (SAO) caused lengthy periods of inactivity.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat sort of delay can adversely affect the momentum of a criminal case and the morale of the victim,\u201d said Etienne\u2019s attorney, Aaron Karger.<\/p>\n

Etienne hired Karger in 2023 after feeling ignored by new prosecutors. While the initial prosecutor included her in discussions about a plea requiring sex offender registration, subsequent prosecutors took over in 2020 and sidelined her concerns, she says.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince our first meeting where Ms. [Kathleen] Hoague \u2014 chief assistant state attorney \u2014 and Mr. [Arvind] Singh \u2014 assistant state attorney \u2014 tried to persuade me to accept the non-sexual abuse non-offender registry charge offer to Albert Bassett, my cries for what I thought was minimal justice have remained ignored and disregarded,\u201d Etienne said.<\/p>\n

The plea she didn\u2019t want<\/p>\n

Etienne\u2019s objective was clear:<\/p>\n

“Making sure that he does register as a sexual offender, so that others don\u2019t fall victim.”<\/p>\n

The SAO declined an interview with The Miami Times, pointing instead to its closeout memorandum, which acknowledged Etienne\u2019s requests. However, the memo also noted defense evidence showing Etienne and Bassett allegedly maintained a financial relationship until charges were filed in 2019. Karger said prosecutors suggested during plea conversations that a jury could view Bassett\u2019s payments for Etienne\u2019s childhood expenses, such as dental braces, as \u201creparations.\u201d<\/p>\n

The SAO also pointed to a deposition in which defense counsel asked whether Etienne would be fine with prosecutors resolving the case as they saw fit, to which she answered \u201cyes.” Karger strongly rejected the idea that Etienne\u2019s response implied consent to waive registry requirements.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeisha did not conceive that ASA Singh could or would believe it \u2018appropriate\u2019… to override her bare minimum request,\u201d Karger said. \u201cHardly a trauma-informed approach to the child sexual abuse victims that the office seeks justice for.\u201d<\/p>\n

Karger highlighted broader systemic disparities in how cases are resolved.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cSexual abuse victims often ask that their abusers receive jail, and that is frequently granted \u2014 though often for defendants with fewer resources and less standing. Keisha asked for the bare minimum. So what was it about the defendant and his four lawyers that didn’t allow that to happen here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Aaron<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goal now is that of awareness. At times she felt silenced. And so that silence is no more.\u201d -Attorney Aaron Karger<\/p>\n

Ultimately, prosecutors accepted a plea for aggravated child abuse without registry requirements, citing Bassett\u2019s advanced age and health as reasons why registration-related residency laws would be too burdensome. In exchange, the defense agreed not to deny the sexual nature of the conduct and accepted restrictions similar to sex-offender probation, which Judge Alberto Millian approved in May 2024.<\/p>\n

Sitting in that courtroom reopened decades-old wounds for Etienne.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a school counselor, so I know the psychology of it all,\u201d she said. \u201cBut to physically feel like a child and almost feel re-abused and victimized was very disappointing.\u201d<\/p>\n

In her victim impact statement, she put it bluntly: \u201cThe saying, \u2018In a world where money talks, the poor are silenced,\u2019 resonates and serves as a reminder that justice is not always granted to those who deserve it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Keisha<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

“It was demoralizing that after it took me years to find the strength to come forward, the outcome left me feeling silenced. It brought back the helplessness I felt as a child, when my pain went unacknowledged.” – Keisha Etienne<\/p>\n

(Keisha Etienne)<\/p>\n

According to the Pew Research Center,<\/a> about 86% of Black Americans report that the courts require major overhauls or need to be completely rebuilt to ensure fair treatment, with nearly 67% expressing unfavorable views of the legal framework due to deep-seated disparities in charging, sentencing and representation.<\/p>\n

Karger hopes Etienne\u2019s decision to go public will spark broader reforms.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cNow that Ms. Etienne is coming forward to tell her story about what it was like to be a crime victim in that system, we hope we can effectuate some change with the way that these cases are being handled \u2014 particularly cases that involve really egregious, awful factual allegations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Breaking cultural and systemic silence<\/p>\n

\"Reporting\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Etienne\u2019s decades-long delay in reporting what she experienced is far from unusual. According to CHILD USA<\/a>, 33% to 70% of child sexual abuse victims do not disclose the abuse until adulthood, with a median disclosure age of 48.<\/p>\n

In minority communities, those barriers run even deeper. Data from theNational Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community<\/a> indicates that for every Black woman who reports sexual assault, 15 do not.<\/p>\n

As a Haitian American, Etienne notes that cultural expectations often demand keeping family matters internal.<\/p>\n

“One of the barriers culturally is to keep things inside, especially in the Black and Brown community,” she explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Keisha<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Keisha Etienne on her graduation day.<\/p>\n

(Keisha Etienne)<\/p>\n

Fear of disbelief and internalized guilt only compound the silence.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe rationalize psychologically as a victim what you did to cause it, and if you feel guilty that it was you, why would you go forward?\u201d<\/p>\n

She also argues that investigators must consider the realities of delayed reporting. Abuse that occurred decades ago took place before smartphones and constant digital documentation. Karger noted that socioeconomic and racial disparities can compound those difficulties by making interactions with prosecutors and institutions intimidating.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) data<\/a>show lower legal substantiation rates for Black girls than white children in sexual abuse cases, despite research indicating sexual abuse histories among Black women range from 34% to over 60%.<\/p>\n

Etienne\u2019s work with children influenced her decision to report. It wasn’t until Etienne attended a 2019 child sexual abuse prevention training that she recognized the grooming she had experienced and found the power to step forward.<\/p>\n

From victim to victor<\/p>\n

Though the justice system failed to deliver the outcome she sought, Etienne refuses to stay quiet. While no further legal action is planned, she is shifting her focus entirely to advocacy.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goal now is that of awareness,\u201d Karger said. \u201cAt times she felt silenced. And so that silence is no more.\u201d<\/p>\n

“I like using the word victor,” Etienne said, choosing it deliberately over “victim.”<\/p>\n

Beyond advocacy, Etienne has turned inward to heal.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the things I\u2019ve been doing through this process is working in advocacy but also still on self. There are a lot of organizations that help, and I\u2019ve gone to several of them and learned so much about the brain and what happens in traumatization,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

She urges survivors to start small: confide in one trusted person, seek therapy, and build a support system.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cCommunity can be just one person \u2014 a family member or a friend that is an encouragement. For me, those were my sisters.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though disappointed by the justice system, Etienne hopes her story encourages others to seek help rather than retreat into silence.<\/p>\n

\u201cI share this because I do not want other survivors to experience this same outcome,\u201d Etienne said. \u201cYou\u2019ll feel so much lighter by starting with therapy, having a community and speaking to authorities if that\u2019s what you decide to do. The heaviness will become a little less heavy, because you\u2019ll feel like there are people holding you up.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cAll I wanted was a dad.\u201d Keisha Etienne was 9 years old when, she says, the man she…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":375443,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[151355,151357,151353,151356,151359,225,227,226,151354,104847,151358],"class_list":["post-375442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-hialeah","tag-aggravated-child-abuse-plea","tag-black-and-immigrant-communities","tag-child-sexual-abuse-survivor","tag-delayed-disclosure-of-abuse","tag-florida-justice-system","tag-hialeah","tag-hialeah-headlines","tag-hialeah-news","tag-miami-dade-child-abuse-case","tag-sex-offender-registry","tag-survivor-advocacy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/375442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=375442"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/375442\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/375443"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=375442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=375442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=375442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}