Donald Richard Hausen

A Loudoun County jury on Wednesday convicted a Sterling man of 14 felony charges stemming from incidents against a 7-year-old girl.

The jury, after deliberating for more than three hours, recommended a 111-year sentence and a $50,000 fine for 35-year-old Donald Richard Hausen.

Hausen was convicted of charges including aggravated sexual battery, manufacturing child pornography, distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography.

Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, Gigi Lawless and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Russet Perry presented evidence over the course of the three-day trial.

According to reports, Hausen was acquainted with the 7-year-old girl.

Members of the victim’s family testified during the sentencing phase of the trial. During the testimony of one family member, the jury was asked to assess Hausen by asserting that “it’s the things you do when no one is watching” that tell others about your character and that it was the actions Hausen took when no one was watching that made an “irreparable” impact on their family.

Perry asked the jury to “speak for the community” and to consider a sentence that would “protect the members of the public and the community.”

The prosecutor also asked the jurors to remember that the “pictures in this case are not just images of crime scenes, but these are experiences for the victim; they are her memories. These are memories that this victim and her family can never walk away from. These memories can never be erased.”

The jury recommend Hausen serve the maximum sentence of 20 years and pay a fine of $50,000 for aggravated sexual battery; 15 years on each of the four counts of manufacturing child pornography; five years on each of the two counts of distribution of child pornography, and three years on each of the seven possession of child pornography charges for a total of 111 years in the Virginia Department of Corrections.

A final sentencing hearing will be held on Dec. 17 before the Judge Herman A. Wisenant who presided over the trial.

Under Virginia law a judge may reduce a jury’s recommendation by providing written reasons, but may not increase a jury’s recommendation. Thirty years of the 111-year sentence imposed is a mandatory minimum sentence according to the Virginia Code, and cannot be reduced in whole or in part. Pursuant to Virginia’s Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry Act, Hausen will also be required to register as a violent sex offender.