California Babysitter Sentenced To 100 Years For Allowing Boyfriend To Abuse Children Under Her Care

A California babysitter who specialized in caring for special needs children received a 100-year-to-life prison sentence Thursday for sexually assaulting at least four young girls she was entrusted to watch, according to a San Diego County District Attorney press release.

Brittney Mae Lyon, 31, was handed down the sentence by the San Diego County Superior Court for her role in a systematic abuse scheme involving her boyfriend, Samuel Cabrera, the press release reported. Lyon had pleaded guilty in May to two felony counts of lewd act upon a child and two counts of forcible lewd act upon a child.

The victims, ranging from three to seven years old, included two girls diagnosed with autism, one of whom was nonverbal. “This defendant was ruthless in posing as a trustworthy babysitter and recruiting autistic children, only to commit the most atrocious acts upon them,” San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said in the press release.

Babysitter sentenced to 100 yrs-to-life for targeting children with special needs for her boyfriend to molest. Some victims were just 3 years old, autistic, and non-verbal. DA @SummerStephan also calls for closing parole loopholes to protect children: https://t.co/bkRJ9izIkn pic.twitter.com/3C6PWIwyRW

— SD District Attorney (@SDDistAtty) August 15, 2025

Lyon coordinated with Cabrera to plan access to the children, either bringing them to his house or inviting him to her home during babysitting sessions, the press release reported. Authorities uncovered the abuse in 2016 when a seven-year-old victim told her mother she didn’t want to go anywhere with Lyon, who was a family friend. (RELATED: Couple Arrested After Mom Allegedly Sells 2-Year-Old Daughter To Meth Dealer)

Police arrested Lyon after the mother reported her concerns. Officers discovered six computer hard drives containing hundreds of videos depicting the abuse. They also found recordings Lyon made of women and girls in changing rooms, bathrooms, and locker rooms across North County. Cabrera received eight life terms without parole in 2021 following his 2019 conviction, the press release reported.

California’s parole laws allow Lyon to petition for release when she turns 50, potentially serving only 28 years. State Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones called this “shameful” and advocated for pending legislation that would prevent sex offenders from qualifying for elderly parole, according to the press release. “I’m calling on my Democrat colleagues to stop protecting predators, move this important bill forward, and deliver justice for victims,” Senator Jones said.