Husband and wife suspended as lawyers. The problem: what happened with the babysitter

A Florida couple who are lawyers have been disciplined by the Florida Bar over their behavior with their regular babysitter in March 2023.

Gabriel Warren and Sarah Warren, both 40, have received interim felony suspensions as attorneys from the state Supreme Court after their no contest pleas in Leon County Circuit Court. They were charged with one count each of unlawful use of a two-way wireless communications device to facilitate or further the commission of any felony.

The Warrens received 15 days in county jail followed by four years on state probation.

Gabriel Warren’s LinkedIn page says the former partner at Rutledge Ecenia is now “a distinguished healthcare consultant with a robust background in law.”

Gabriel Warren
Gabriel Warren

Sarah Warren’s website claims she’s not an attorney anymore, and “is now pursuing independent business ventures alongside her husband, Gabe, utilizing the knowledge and experience she gained during her legal career.”

Sarah Warren
Sarah Warren

According to arrest paperwork, the Warrens used a babysitter who had come to think of them “as parental figures” after four years. The Warrens allowed her boyfriend to join her while babysitting and, after the Warrens came back from their date nights, the couples would share wine and conversation.

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But on March 10, 2023, the babysitter told Tallahassee police, she and her boyfriend had broken up so she worked alone as the Warrens enjoyed a Friday night date night. When the couple returned to their four-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom, 3,321 square-foot home, she said Sarah was “super drunk,” changed into a “very provocative” nightgown sans underwear and sat on the couch next to the babysitter.

Soon, the babysitter said, Sarah straddled her and attempted to kiss her while telling her the couple desired her sexually for months. The babysitter said when she tried to free herself from the situation, Gabriel, Sarah or both would block her or push her back down to the couch, putting demand force behind their requests.

The babysitter “told Sarah several times she did not want to stay,” the probable cause affidavit said. “Sarah told Gabriel to make her want to stay. Gabriel began touching (her) through the leggings. (The babysitter) believed Gabriel noticed (she) was uncomfortable and would back off, but Sarah would tell him to do things and he would, including kissing and touching her in several places.”

Eventually, the babysitter was allowed to leave. She quickly texted her ex-boyfriend “SOS” and phoned friends, distraught over what happened.

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The babysitter “felt like she could not report the incident because Gabriel and Sarah are both lawyers, and she also did not want to jeopardize the relationship with their (child) for whom she babysits,” the probable cause affidavit said.

The Warrens would be arrested on sexual battery charges. The Tallahassee Democrat reported the Warrens, as part of the plea deal, apologized to their victim in court.

“Reflecting on my actions, which I now understand was completely unacceptable, I deeply regret violating your trust by initiated sexual acts on March 10, 2023, and make no excuses for what I did,” Sarah Warren said. “While my actions can’t be taken back, please know that I am remorseful and embarrassed by my actions on that night.”

Gabriel Warren said, “I see now the harmful effects that my actions had on you. Though I would not presume to understand the depth of your feelings about that night, I know that I hurt you and I’m sorry.”