Accused sex offender pleads guilty

Christian Giggenbach
Register-Herald Reporter

April 29, 2008 10:45 pm

— LEWISBURG — Just minutes before going to trial, a Rainelle man accused of child sex crimes accepted a plea offer by prosecutors Tuesday and pleaded guilty to abusing three youngsters ages 6 to 11.
Ronald R. Rhoton Jr., 34, waived his right to a presentencing report and asked to be immediately sentenced by Chief Circuit Judge James J. Rowe.
“You are a present danger ... ,” Rowe said. “And as such, you need to be removed from society for as long as possible. For whatever perverted notion you had, it’s simply unspeakable.”
Rowe followed the plea agreement first offered to Rhoton by the state April 14, which Prosecutor Kevin Hanson said the defendant initially turned down. On Tuesday, Rowe sentenced Rhoton to three consecutive prison sentences of 10 to 20 years each on three felony pleas to sexual abuse by a parent, guardian or custodian, for a total of 30 to 60 years.
Rhoton was indicted on five counts of first-degree sexual abuse, two counts of first-degree sexual assault and four counts of sexual abuse by a parent or guardian. The state dropped all but three of the charges in exchange for his guilty plea.
“I was already in the courtroom preparing for the trial and he accepted the plea agreement we had reached about two weeks ago, but he backed out of,” Hanson said Tuesday. “It was a very good resolution to the case because the young victims did not have to testify. I brought the mother and the victims back to my office and told them it was their decision and they all agreed that the plea agreement was for the best.”
The victims’ mother briefly testified during the sentencing phase that Rhoton had ruined her children’s lives forever.
“I allowed this man to come into my home and he has completely destroyed my children,” the mother said, sobbing uncontrollably as her children looked on from the gallery. “Please impose the strongest sentence possible so that he may never get out of prison again.”
A criminal investigation filed by police indicated Rhoton allegedly, in at least one instance, enticed his victims with candy or “Fudge Rounds” in exchange for “kisses.”
The investigation also revealed Rhoton allegedly photographed the children and himself in various stages of undress.
Rowe asked the victims’ mother if there was Internet service at the home, implying the photographs could have been disseminated online. She said “yes,” to the Internet question, but was unsure of anything else.
“We have no evidence that photographs were either saved or deleted from the computer,” Hanson told the court.
Hanson said Rhoton had been living in the residence for a “couple of years” as the mother’s “boyfriend.” When asked to speak by Rowe, Rhoton faced the gallery and his victims and apologized.
“I apologize for everything. I betrayed your trust ...,” Rhoton said. “Last night I said a prayer that made me come to the decisions that I made today.”

Child Youth and Advocacy Center forensic interviewer Monica Acord said the Rhoton case was “a good example of the cohesive work by the county’s Multidisciplinary Investigative Team,” which included Sheriff’s Deputy Adam Martin, Child Protective Services, prosecutors and her office.
“Mr. Rhoton groomed his victims into trusting him and then preyed upon them,” Acord said Tuesday. “I am relieved the children did not have to testify today.”
Hanson said Rhoton must serve at least 30 years before being eligible for parole. Rhoton engaged in sex acts with his victims in late 2006.

— E-mail: cgiggenbach
@register-herald.com