victims and a sentence that's consistent with sentences for similar crimes by similar offenders and also the sentence must not be based upon your race, ethnicity, gender or religion. one issue here in terms of proportion alt which we'll get to later, i looked back on the cases i've had, there have been none that have a scope approaching this, but in terms of harm to a victim, they're similar, although your misconduct here far exceeds the scope and duration of the defendants i'm going to mention. in kevin dominic's case which was 300-286, i imposed two consecutive life sentences for him. and for mr. yakov, in case 450-218, he received a sentence

of 36 years based upon his conduct. those did not involve kidnapping and torture and deprivation and such over a number of years. the harm to the victims was of course still great because they were raped. those two instances, by their dad. but nothing like this. in this matter, indicators that your conduct is more serious than the 2929.12b. based on the information available to the kocourt. all of this was organized, you used deception, you used chains and other means to hold captive three young women and ultimately

a young child. there was a certain strategy involved. the connection between all of these individuals was the fact that they all were friends with one or more of your daughters or your son and that was your entree and that's how this evolved. and you indicated that you had to do this because you suffer from sex addiction, but at the same time that this plan was going into operation with miss knight, you had a girlfriend who was not harmed, was not abused, you had apparently -- or outwardly normal relationship with her. you recall her? >> yes. >> okay. so you are able to choose who you wish to victimize. there was serious physical harm. miss knight suffered on many occasions, according to the

information. the others were -- as well as miss knight, showing signs of malnourishment and such. there was serious psychological harm. she touched upon the captivity issue and how liberating it is now. we also heard some information about medical care and how they didn't even want to come out of the house because they at that point two of the women had been almost programmed to stay there. not because they wanted to but because they were afraid of what the repercussions would be if they did leave, that you would then see this as a test that they failed and hurt them. i think even without the testimony of the expert from michigan, any person in america would understand that a person

who is held captive for between 9 and 11 years, sexually assaulted and such will hold and have serious psychological harm, as well as the physical harm. there's also economic harm. i know miss berry was coming from work and the others were all young and they had an opportunity to work which you deprived them of that and not just the wages, you also deprived them of the opportunity to be out in public, to socialize, to be with their families, all those other things that come under -- maybe not under economic harm but then back to the psychological harm. another indicator conduct is more serious, the age. jocelyn is a very young child, and yet she grew up in a household where doors were locked, people were chained up, windows were covered, people were not allowed to come over and visit, it was all -- i would

believe that inspector moore from drc would agree that the conditions at your house could never be tolerated in any ohio prison. >> excuse me, your honor, my daughter never seen any issue. [ inaudible ] >> well, also the age of the victims is important here. they were young women, teenagers, and they could not have imagined that an adult would trick them and imprison them and enslave them and abuse them. you took advantage of their naivete and the fact that they were pleasant individuals that could not fathom this type of behavior. the relationship issue is

important here. your daughter. you have exposed a young child to unbelievable conditions. in your mind there was harmony and a happy household. i'm not sure there's anybody else in america that will agree with you. and there were many crimes committed in the vicinity of your young daughter. the women were still being raped and deprived of food and living in difficult physical conditions indications your conduct is less serious, you have indicated that you were a victim of sexual abuse. that's possible. i don't know. i do know though that those who are sexually abused, there is a tendency of some to act out and to abuse others, but there are many -- and i suspect more -- who move on from that and live a healthy life that they are not

abusing others. you indicated that you do have a mental illness, but i'm not aware of any of that. as you've appeared here, you've always answered questions and understood what's going on. you just made a calculated decision in this instance to do wrong. and if anything, to me you exhibit antisocial personality disorder. i'm not a psychological expert. certainly don't have the credentials of those who spoke here today, but you have extreme narcissism and it seems rather pervasive. indicators that you are more likely to reoffend. well, prior to this, there were no convictions. now you said that your wife would irritate you, she wouldn't stop talking, then you would respond. well, my understanding from the

records is that she suffered a broken nose twice, she had broken teeth and she otherwise was abused but they were never followed through as a conviction. and that's unfortunate. it's something we talk about with all family members who are victims of abuse, whether they're a man, woman, child, young adult. no one is allowed to have violence visited upon them in their home or at their school. i wish that she had prosecuted for her sake and i know now that she has passed, but victims need to stand up for themselves so that the abuse stops, so that those who are abusers, when possible, will receive proper treatment and redirection. that's what the court is for. you had resources available to you. the rape crisis center is open to anyone who's a victim of

sexual abuse. if you had wanted to, you could have contacted them. your home is also near recovery resources. there's metro if you want to go and be rated for psychiatric issues. there were a lot of options. but one option that should never be available is that you kidnap someone, sexually assault them and torture them. that's not ever going to be an accepted remedy. indicators that you are less likely to reoffend in the general sense. you did work, though i also note you have a much different view of your job than the job records would indicate. according to the cleveland metropolitan school district, your performance was not always acceptable. you left a child on the bus. you would go shopping at 143rd

and leave your school bus at mark's. you ended up eventually leaving that job. you ended up, i think, on tv before about that job. right? >> your honor, that is not right. when i checked my bus, that's when i noticed the child was on there. >> you were disciplined for that. >> but that child never stayed alone. >> but were you disciplined for it. >> yes, i was. >> and ultimately your work as a school bus driver ended. correct. >> yes. but that happened also when -- it wasn't my regular route. i think -- [ inaudible ] >> again, keeping in mind the principles for

incapacitation and deterrence. on behalf of the state with respect to your two counts of aggravated murder -- >> judge, we elect to have the sentence imposed on count 1 but as to count 2 be merges fe for purposes of sentencing. >> no objection? >> no objection. >> based upon the election by the state, count 2, charge of aggravated murder with specifications, will merge into count 1. mr. castro, you'll only be sentenced on count 1 for aggravated murder with

specifications. >> your honor? >> no. what do you want to say? you pled guilty to it? >> there was never any evidence. there was never any evidence of that but i don't want to put the women through any more -- any more psychological -- so that's why i pled guilty to that, your honor. it was never no evidence of me murderizing a fetus. that never happened. >> mr. castro, you talked with your attorneys and you made the decision to plead to count 1 as indicted. >> yes. i just wanted to respond to the record. i never killed anyone and i am not a murder. >> so, on count 1 with specifications, the charge of

aggravated murder, court is imposing a sentence of lifetime incarceration without the possibility of parole. to the charge of rape and violation of revised code 2907.02a2, with sexually violent predator specifications, felony in the first degree, the court is imposing a mandatory minimum term of incarceration of not less than ten years to maximum of lifetime incarceration. that is on counts 3, 40, 42, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95,

97, 293, 300, 347 through 360, incluesive, on each and everyone. counts 410 through 428 inclusive, that sentence goes on each and every count. counts 468 through 487 inclusive on each and every count. counts 518 through 574 inclusive on each and every count. counts 675 through 731, inclusive, on each and every count. counts 824 through 880, inclusive, on each and every count. with respect to the charge of rape and violation of revised code section 2907.02a2, with

sexually violent predator specifications, felonies in the first degree committed after september 30th, 2011, court imposes a sentence of ten years incarceration on each count. that is specifically with respect to counts 575 through 594, inclusive, on each and every count. counts 732 through 743 inclusive on each and every count. counts 881 through 892 inclusive on each and every count. with respect to the charge of rape in violation of revised code section 2907.02a2, felonies in the first degree committed prior to september 30th, 2011, court imposes sentence of ten years incarceration. that is with respect to count 11, 14, 18, 20, 23, 25, 28, 30,

32, 34, 36, 38, 101, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196, 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 2

2220, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 235, 237, 241, 251, 253, 255, 257, 259, 161, 263, 265, 268, 271, 274, 277, 280, 283, 286, 288, 291, 314, 317, 323, 324,32 325 through 246 inclusive on each and everyone. 400 through 409 inclusive on each and every count.

court imposes a sentence for kidnapping in violation of revised code 2905.01b2 felony in the first degree for the period december 25, 2006 through may 6, 2013, on count 973, court imposes a sentence of ten years incarcerati incarceration. counts of kidnapping, in violation of revised code section 2905.71a3, sexual motivation specifications, knellknel felonies committed prior to september 30, 2011, court imposes a sentence of ten years incarceration on count 7, 8, 9, 10, 99, 100, 104, 107, 302 been 303, 308 and 3, 303, 308 and 31. kidnapping in violation of

revised code section, sexual motivation specifications and sexually violent predator specifications for felonies in the first degree committed prior to september 30th, 2011, court imposes a mandatory minimum term of incarceration of not less than ten years to a maximum of lifetime incarceration. that's on each of the counts that follow. 44, 45, 46, 236, 297, 298, 320, 321, 322. under charges in the indictment of kidnapping in violation of revised code section 2905.01a4 with sexual motivation specification, felonies in the first degree committed prior to september 30, 2011, court

imposes sentence of ten years incarceration, that is on each count, specifically count 19, 24, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 123, 125, 127, 129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, 159, 161, 163, 165, 167, 169, 171, 173, 175, 177, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 189, 191, 193, 195, 197, 199, 201, 203, 205,

207, 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, 221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244, 246, 248, 250, 252, 254, 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 287, 292, 361 through 384 inclusive on each and every count. 429 through 438 inclusive on each and every count. and counts 488 through 497 inclusive on each and every count. the charge of kidnapping in

violation of revised code section 2905.01a4, with sexual motivation specifications and sexually violent predator specification, felonies of the first degree committed prior to september 30, 2011, court imposes mandatory minimum term of incarceration not less than ten years but maximum of lifetime imprisonment on each of the following counts. counts 4, 41, 43, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, counts 385 through 399 inclusive on each and every count. counts 4, 39 through 457 inclusive on each and every count. counts 498 through 517 inclusive on each and every count. counts 598 through 653 inclusive

on each and every count. counts 744 through 802 inclusive on each and every count. counts 893 through 951 inclusive on each and every count. again that was a mandatory minimum term of incarceration of not less than ten years to a maximum of lifetime imprisonment. for kidnapping in violation of revised code section 2905.01a4 with sexual motivation specifications and sexually violent sexual predator violations, after september 30, 2011, court imposes mandatory minimum term of incarceration not less than ten years with maximum of lifetime incarceration on each of the following counts. counts 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, counts 654 through 673 inclusive on each and every count. counts 803 through 822 inclusive

on each and every count. counts 952 through 971 inclusive on each and every count. counts for felonious assault in violation of revised code 2903.a1, court imposes a accepts of eight years incarceration on each count -- counts 674, 823, and 972. on count 6, charge of felonious assault, violation of 2903.11a1 with a pregnant victim specification. sexually violent predator specification, this would be count 6. court imposes a sentence of a mandatory term of imprisonment of eight years to a maximum of lifetime imprisonment on this

particular count. for the charge of felonious assault in violation of revised code section 2909.11a2, felony in the second degree for counts 234 and 304 for each of those counts, court is imposing a sentence of eight years incarceration for counts involving gross sexual imposition in violation of revised code section 2907.05a1, felonies of the fourth degree, court imposes a sentence of 18 months incarceration for the following -- counts 17, 105, 305, 306, 309, 310 and 311. on count 974, count in violation of revised code 2919.22a for endangering children, a misdemeanor of the first degree, court imposes a sentence of six months in the county jail.

that will be concurrent with the time at lci. on other counts, for endangering children, violation of revised code section 2919.22a, felonies of the third degree, for counts 975 and 976, the court is imposing on each of those counts term of incarceration of 36 months. for count 977, charge of possessing criminal tools, felony in the fifth degree, court is imposing sentence of 12 months incarceration. i'll be shortly talking about my findings with respect to consecutive sentences. but in doing so i want to make clear that for any counts that are not specifically mentioned and the time on those counts is

to be served concurrently with the other counts. i find that the maximum sentences that were imposed on the counts i've just discussed at length, if they were not mandatory time, the court would impose the maximum because these are the form of the offenses. although mr. castro does not have a prior criminal conviction, the scope of these crimes and the merciless manner in which they were inflicted requires that a maximum sentence on each of those counts be imposed. mr. castro, your aunk luncle is, correct? and his wife norma. >> yes. >> they are wonderful people. they have a great reputation in the community.

they've operated a neighborhood store for over 40 years. they were victims of a crime. and per traitor of that crime, he had excuses, also ghb his case he blamed drug addiction and such. but to the victim, excuses don't take away the harm that's involved. so -- >> i understand. >> page 16, as a recommended sentence the parties stipulate and agree that life without parole is agreed to by the defendant. to me the defendant will never be released from incarceration during the period of his remaining natural life for any

reason. that is the effect of the plea to count 1 which was, as we've heard here and discussed a little bit on friday, the parties each gave up something in order to reach that agreement and the court would be enforcing and accepting the recommendation of the parties as far as the count 1, aggravated murder charge with specifications, it would be a sentence of life without parole without any release. with respect to the other part of the recommendation that the defendant agrees to ten-year to life sentences, indefinite sentences, the minimum of ten years to maximum of lifetime for other counts, the court is restrained, as i said, by the venice decision, by section 2929.14. i'm also aware of the blackburn

decision and have followed that in the past. in imposing consecutive sentences in ohio, court is aware that there is a preference in ohio for minimum sentencing and for concurrent sentencing but that can be overcome when the court feels that there are circumstances that make a crime so heinous or so significant that its effect on the community, the victim or that such punishment is needed that the court can go beyond that preference in the law and impose maximum sentences or consecutive. so here we are dealing with the issue of consecutive sentences. under venice, our court of appeals has made clear the court must make separate findings but that's our practice anyway. so i have to determine whether a consecutive sentence is necessary to protect the public

from a future crime or to punish the offender. i must determine that the consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of the offender's conduct and to the danger the offender poses to the public, and then the court must make a finding. there are three alternatives in here. one i'm going to focus on is "b." at least two of the multiple offenses were committed as part of one or more courses of conduct and the harm caused by two or more of the multiple offenses so committed was so great or unusual that no single prison term for any of the offenses committed as part of any of the courses of conduct adequately reflects the seriously of the offender's conduct. so with respect to the plea agreement where the parties have recommended to the court that there be consecutive sentences imposed, with respect to certain of the counts in the indictment.

based upon the information presented here, as well as the sheer number of the offenses, the instances where not just where the victims were initially through subterfuge imprisoned, but the subsequent kidnappings where they would be taken to the garage for a period of time because you had company or they would be allowed out, but only for a brief moment, or they be taken from one room to the basement and brutalized or restrained other than just the normal conduct where our court of appeals or the state of ohio says we should have an ally defense. those have been dealt with already in the plea agreement. those were taken out of this consideration. the state dismissed those charges. there would not even be an issue about ally defenses.

in this instance, court find that the many, many instances of sexual assault, both the rapes, the gsis, as well as all the kidnappings and the flowness assault and t-- flowelonious as make it necessary a consecutive sentence be imposed to deter from a future crime and to punish you. i still feel based upon our -- the information that you have provided to the court, as well as information from others, that you feel that you are a victim and that you may have been a victim in the past during your childhood. i don't know. but from the time of your majority, have you not been a victim. you've been a victimizer. and the three young women should never have had anyone trick them into captivity for an hour.

not even a moment. they should have been free to live their lives as everybody else is free in cleveland to enjoy all the wonderful things that our area has to offer. they shouldn't have been locked in a house padlocked in, in deplorable conditions. it shouldn't have happened. okay? so you should seereceive punisht for harming them in that way. court finds consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of your conduct and to the danger that you pose to the public. you didn't just do this once. you did it to three young women and at various times you took advantage of one or took advantage of others all in really horrific conditions and

inhumane ways. at your hearing, you say that you really couldn't help this. that's what you were saying to the court. that lack of insight means to me that you are still pose a grave danger to the community if you were to receive anything other than consecutive sentence. you don't deserve to be out in our community. you're too dangerous because in your mind you're a victim again as opposed to those who actually did suffer the victimization. with respect to 3b, court finds that at least two of these multiple offenses were committed as part of one or more courses of conduct. you went out, you hunted for one woman -- or you said that you just had not made this plan, formulated it. all right, so, you know, if you

abducted miss knight and that wasn't your initial intention when you regarded that, fine. but ghachb circumstance, then you went on and did hunt for two others and you never released miss knight. i mean you didn't release anybody. i don't know what the end game here was. i don't know that you had any plan. but you committed all of this as part of one or more courses of conduct. three women, three uses of subterfuge to get them into your house and you did not release them. and then further, you physically and sexually abused them. court also finds that the harm caused by your multiple offenses -- the restraints, gsis, the rapes, the felonious assaults, was so great or unusual -- this certainly goes

in both categories. pain that they suffered particularly miss knight was unbelievable and similar, i believe, from the information she suffered in a way that was similar to what was visited upon by your ex-wife when she was struck. but the harm here is also so unusual that -- in a completely negative sense that you took three young women out of very significant relationships they had with their family and their community and their time in their lives and you made them slaves and you treated them as if they were not people and they were just sex objects. we have a lot of cases now coming before this court about human trafficking. this is really in the way it was conducted no different. and equally sad.

so court finds that no single prison term for any of these offenses that you've committed as part of these courses of conduct would adequately reflect the seriousness of your conduct unless the court imposes consecutive sentences. so that being said, in addition to serving a sentence of life without parole for count 1, the court is also imposing consecutive sentences of minimum mandatory of 10 years to a lifetime sentence on counts 24, 45, 46, 296, 297, 298, 320, 321, 322, 4, 41, 43, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86,

88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 300, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 400, 42, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, and then consecutive terms of 10 years to all the aforementioned counts for each of counts 11, 14, 18, 20, 23, 25, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 101, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118,

120, 19, 24, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, 251, 314, and 317. those counts that i've just mentioned will all be seved consecutively to count 1 and to each other. you did have and receive from this court an aggregate sentence of incarceration to be served of life without parole consecutive to what amounts to a sentence of 1,000 years to life. you understand that sentence blb castro? >> yes, i do, your honor. court has reviewed and accepted

the plea agreement and the recommended sentence. i don't see any further purpose in going beyond life without parole. in 1,000 years, a person can only die in prison once and certainly you will receive a sentence that is commensurate with the harm you've done but one that also accomplishes the sentencing principles for purposes here in ohio. there will be an order of forfeiture for the firearm, the home, at 2207 seymour avenue and $22,268.83. all those items will be forfeited by virtue of the sentencing today. court also is imposing a fine of $100,000 in this matter. do you have property, separate and apart from the house, and

for count 1, 3, 7, 8 and 9, the court is imposing maximum fine on those counts which total together equals $100,000. he'll also have to pay the court costs where here, only because of your actions, misguided and despicable as they may be, receive credit for time served of 87 days. in this matter for the felonies in the first degree that i mentioned, all the rape charges, all of the kidnapping charges that i've outlined for you and that you have have consented to by virtue of the plea agreement. for felonies in the first gee agr degree, the adult parole authority will supervise you for five-year period after any release from prison. you would be required to do so if you violate their rules.

they could send you back to do additional time more than one-half of this time that the court has just imposed. is that clear the function and effect of prc? >> yes, sir. >> for the felonious assault charges, i believe those were the only felonies in the second degree, but for felonies of the second degree or offenses of the third degree, with where there is a serious physical harm, you are subject to three years mandatory post release control. again, if it were to happen that you'd be released, the adult parole authority would be required to supervise you for three years mandatory on those charges. if you violated their rules, they could send you back to prison to do additional up to one-half of the time i imposed on felonies in the second degree. is that clear? >> yes, sir. >> that would also apply to the

two counts in the 900s of endangering children. for the possessing criminal tools count, subject to three years discretionary adult release controls. if supervised on that count, it would be for three years. again, they could impose a sentence up to one-half original time for your failure to comply with their rules if they did supervise you and if you did not report you could be charged by the state. is that clear? >> yes, sir. >> you're serving time here on fourth degree felonies on gross sexual imposition, those also carry a mandatory five-year period of post release control as i described for you for the kidnapping and rape charges. you understand that? >> yes, sir. >> and i didn't miss any of the prcs,dy? >> no, you did not, your honor. >> mr. castro, as you mentioned

at your plea, it may seem nonsensabe ablable ablable to a realities that may not be. >> we request a no-contact order with all victims. >> haven't gotten there. that's next. thanks. but have you talked in addition to the funding that's being done privately, you've talked with the -- your victims about the victims of crime fund? you will? >> yes. >> okay. >> mr. castro, you are ordered to have no contact with the victims. don't send them letters. don't make phone calls. don't have others contact them. they have requested after this proceeding to go back to the lives that they formally enjoyed, not anonymous, just not celebrities. they're certainly not anonymous.

they were people who had vast connections in the cleveland community and they want to reintegrate and renew those and expand them. they would also like their privacy so you will not be permitted to contact them. is that clear? yes? you understand that requirement? >> are you referring to my daughter, also? >> yes. she's a victim. she is subject of three counts of endangering a child. by law she would and victim. >> i know. but i heard that i can file for parental rights -- >> well, as in many other instances, a person can file. whether they're going to be successful is a different matter and it would take place in a different court. it does not involve this court. i'm imposing a no-contact order. you should not try and contact them from the institution. okay? >> i understand. >> all right.

now, mr. castro, you have been afforded under the law an extraordinary number of rights and they are rights guaranteed to all those who come into this courtroom. it's part of the strength of our system is that no matter what has occurred, we treat everyone civilly in our country. you understand that under criminal rule 32, you have a right to appeal. if you're unable to pay the cost of an appeal, you have the right to appeal without payment. if you are unable to obtain counsel for an appeal, counsel will be appointed without cost. if you're unable to pay the costs of documents necessary to an appeal, documents will be provided without cost. you have a right to have a notice of appeal timely filed on

your behalf. do you understand that? >> yes, your honor. >> anything further on behalf of the state? >> other than we note our objection to the plea bargain waiving his appeal right. >> that's a contract issue. >> we've litigated it in the past. thank you. >> okay. i think they understand that. >> thank the court for all the work you've done. thank you. >> thank you. anything further? >> yes, thank you, your honor. just so you can expect, we're going to be filing a motion for return of some of the items. we'll present an order to you by tomorrow morning. >> those are family photo albums and clothing and motorcycles -- >> yes. few cars and some motorcycles. >> you'll review that and if have you no objection, the court will enter an order. >> thank you. >> counsel, anything else on behalf of either party?

>> no, thank you, your honor. >> all right. mr. castro, if you would rise, please. sir, there is no place in this city, there's no place in this country, indeed there's no place in this world for those who enslave others, those who sexually assault others or those who brutalize others. for more than ten years you have preyed upon three young women. you subjected them to harsh and violent conduct. you felt you were dominating them but you were incorrect. you cannot take away their dignity. although they suffered terribly, miss knight, miss dejesus and miss berry did not give up hope. they have persevered. in fact, they have prevailed. these remarkable women again have their freedom which is the most precious aspect of being an american. mr. castro, you forfeited that right. you now become a number with the department of rehabilitation and correction. you will be confined for the remainder of your days. you are hereby remanded for

transport to the lorraine correctional institution. now for miss knight, miss dejesus and miss berry, as well as your young daughter, we celebrate your futures. we acknowledge the faithfulness of your families, your friends and all others acknowledge the families, your families and all of the others who so fervently believe. on behalf of the judges and the court, we wish each of you success and a sense of peace. we're add jushd. thank you. >> thank you. >> you're welcome. and with that, court is adjourned. good day. i am andrea mitchell in washington. you have just watched the extraordinary sentencing of ariel castro sentenced to life in prison with no parole. you watched michelle knight facing her captor for 11 years, ariel castro for the first time since her rescue. >> every day i wonder if i was ever going to see them again.

he was only 2 1/2 years old when i was tooken. i look at him and i see him and i cried every night. i was totally alone. >> the man who held the three women captive in his home for more than a decade pleaded guilty last week to 937 charges to avoid the death penalty. he spoke out in court today issuing disturbing denials of the brutality the young women suffered at his hands. >> it wasn't something that it looks like i did. i didn't do that. i heard her what i did to her. can i react on that? so when i got up that day i did

not say i'm goings to try some women. but i know it's wrong and i'm not trying to -- imi know i'm 100% wrong. what i'm saying -- i'm trying to say -- i'm not trying to -- >> nbc's kate snow now joins me live from cleveland. kate, he said he was the victim in some regard, the victim in the past from his childhood. the judge said to him, you are not a victim, you are the victimizer. these three women emerged with their dignity and freedom and you are going away for the rest of your life. amazing, amazing sentencing hearing. >> yeah. it has been riveting here. i think the important thing to keep in mind, this is a man despite what you hear him say, this is a person who has pled

guilty to 900 plus charges. live without parole for 1,000 years. he will never see the light of day. he will never see his child again the judge just said. the judge was very clear as much as he painted a picture of some sort of distorted happy household, the judge said i'm not sure there's anybody in america who would agree of that assessment of what you've done here. the descriptions were appalling today, andrea. the pictures that we saw of this home for the first time we saw photos of the interior, chains tied to the wall. just deplorable conditions that these women and the child were kept in. there were toys scattered about but then there were restraints for the women. there were plastic toilets sitting in the bedrooms. they weren't even allowed to go to the bathroom. they were in these filthy conditions. so this man, again, is sent away

now by his own admission of guilt, andrea. >> kate snow, we'll be looking for all of your reports throughout the day and meanwhile president obama is finding himself in an international bind. he is re-evaluating says jay carney the bilateral summit with vladimir putin next month in russia now that putin has given tra temporary asylum to edward snowden. let's go to jim maceda standing by in moscow. jim, this is, of course, after six weeks and four days, edward snowden today released from the airport where he was held in limbo. he is now free for at least a year in russia but the white house says that this is now really putting in play the u.s./russian cooperation and the whole relationship. >> reporter: that's right, andrea. how many more amazing twists are we going to see in this snowden saga.

all of us were expecting this to take months. he was going to sit back and settle into his thick russian novels but then his lawyer confirmed that russia had issued temporary asylum here. we've seen now those images of that not piece of paper, it is a real refugee passport, something that anyone would expect a passport -- july 31st, valid for a year as you say. keep in mind that the asylum is renewable after a year and renewable indefinitely. there's already talk after five years him applying for russian citizenship. what happened was a process that normally takes three to six months was, in fact, in the end fast tracked by putin, by russian immigration officials and then the scene at the airport, passport in hand, snowden slips out of the --

>> and as we wrap up with jim macedo, sorry about the audio problems there. that does it for this edition. a very news packed day. we'll have more on this and the fact that u.s. embassies and consulates in the middle east are closing because of a credible terror threat. we'll have a lot more of that throughout the day right here on msnbc. now to "news nation" with tamron hall coming up next. you know throughout history, folks have suffered from frequent heartburn. but getting heartburn and then treating day after day is a thing of the past.

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hi, everyone. i'm tamron hall in "news nation." breaking news. the gut wrenching news of cleveland kidnapper and rapist ariel castro. for the first time since his arrest, michelle knight, the first woman castro kidnapped, gina dejesus and amanda berry also faced castro.

>> you told me that my family didn't care on on holidays. christmas was the most dramatic day because i never got to spend it with my son. nobody should ever have to go through what i went through or anybody else, not even your worst enemy. i would have gone. we died a little every day as you think about the 11 years and atrocities you inflicted on us. i will think of you hypocrite particularically going to church every sunday, coming home to torture us. you don't deserve that. you deserve life in prison. >> we stand before you