A Tucson woman has been sentenced to probation after admitting to two counts of child abuse with a sexual motive.
Ariana Rounds received her sentencing on Monday, Sept. 9, which includes 25 years of probation and a requirement to undergo counseling and treatment.
Additionally, she will need to provide updates to the court regarding her residence and employment.
A 25-year-old individual has been accused of engaging in inappropriate sexual contact with two minors during their time as a youth leader at a church in Pima County.
The interim complaint alleges that there were a minimum of five instances of sexual activity between Rounds and the teenagers. Several incidents took place in different locations, including a parking lot of a well-known fast-casual Mexican restaurant, an office at the church, and near the parking lot of a popular gas station chain.
Rounds was initially charged with one count of sexual abuse and four counts of sexual conduct involving a minor who was at least 15 years old.
However, on August 9, 2024, she agreed to a plea deal regarding two counts of child abuse.
“The plea agreement was offered in this case after communications and consultation with family members of the victims who strenuously wished not to participate personally, to avoid retraumatizing the victims,” the Pima County Attorney’s Office said in a release. “Ms. Rounds was ordered to have no contact with the victims or their families.”
The PCAO emphasized the importance of Rounds disclosing her conviction when applying for positions or volunteering in environments where adults are responsible for supervising children.
The PCAO also mentioned the possibility of registering as a sex offender “at any point during probation if deemed necessary.”
After ten years, Rounds will have the opportunity to request an early termination of her probation.
If she were to violate her probation, the consequences could be quite severe. She may face a lengthy prison sentence of 7 1/2 years and be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of her life.