Woman Abused By Repeat Sexual Offender Speaks Out Against Justice System Failures

A Delaware County woman wants to share her experience of being molested as a baby, after she said the man who did it has been convicted four times for sex crimes over the years.

She would like to see harsher penalties for repeat sex offenders, like David Lutz.

She believes this is just one example of the justice system failing victims.

Cassie Owens said she doesn't want to raise her daughters in a world where a repeat sex offender continues to walk free, but she has to.

Cassie said even though he's served his time she has to live with trauma, fear, and grief for the rest of her life.

Some of the deepest scars are the ones you can't see.

Cassie said before she could even talk, a trusted family friend, David Lutz, sexually molested her inside her parent's home.

"I don't want to ever seem like a victim," said Cassie Owens, survivor. "If you call yourself a victim, you almost show too much weakness."

She's now 33 and still hurts for that baby girl whose childhood was ripped away.

"You always teach your kids stranger danger, but the most important thing that we should be teaching our kids is that our loved ones sometimes are also the ones that hurt us," explained Cassie.

She's held onto horrific memories and what her mind doesn't remember, her body does.

"You are so much more as a person than what happened to you," said Cassie.

Lutz was charged with molestation in that case, but records don't show a conviction.

Records show Lutz has been convicted of lewd molestation in Delaware County in 1999, rape in Delaware County in 2003, failing to register as a sex offender in Creek County in 2017, and child pornography in Rogers County in 2018.

"How do these predators keep flying under the radar with a slap on the wrist," asked Cassie.

Cassie said she'll protect her daughters at all costs but wants parents, schools, and legislators to do better for our kids.

"You're all that they have," said Cassie.

Records show Lutz was released from prison last summer and remains on probation and has not been in trouble since his release.

We've reached out to the attorney that represented Lutz most recently for comment and will add that response if or when it's received.