As her defense attorney said, Ashley Thomas will be an old woman when she’s eligible to be released from prison. Wednesday, the mother of four was sentenced to 40 years in prison for allowing and participating in the abuse of one of her children. Last month she was convicted on two counts of aggravated child neglect, one count of facilitation of sexual exploitation of a minor, … [Read more...] about Ashley Thomas sentenced to 40 years for allowing, participating in rape of daughter
sex crimes
A mother of four was just convicted on 11 counts of participating in her child’s sexual abuse
Ashley Thomas sat behind the counsel table, leaning her forehead against clasped hands, as the verdict was read. The three-day trial, and three-year legal battle, was finally coming to a close in a dimly-lit courtroom as thunder and heavy rain roared overhead. “I think she wants you in trouble because you didn’t get her out of trouble,” Ashley’s defense attorney Vicky Green … [Read more...] about A mother of four was just convicted on 11 counts of participating in her child’s sexual abuse
Ronnie Gorton pleads guilty to 61 more charges
It was the end of a long road for Ronnie Gorton. Dressed in a red jumpsuit, his hands together below his waist with his fingers intertwined, he repeated the same word 61 times. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. On Friday afternoon the man some call the Pedophile Preacher pleaded guilty to more than five dozen charges including rape, sexual battery by an authority figure, statutory … [Read more...] about Ronnie Gorton pleads guilty to 61 more charges
Former pastor Ronnie Gorton sentenced to 38 years in prison
Ronnie Gorton will be 58 years old the first time he's eligible for release from prison. He sat, still emotionless, as the Judge Joe Walker handed down an effective 38-year sentence Friday morning. "The defendant was the lead pastor in a church and used his position of authority to commit these offenses, he groomed minors for his sexual perversion," Walker said. The first … [Read more...] about Former pastor Ronnie Gorton sentenced to 38 years in prison
‘This went on for awhile’: Two new victims speak in Ronnie Gorton sentencing hearing
Ronnie Gorton has lost his youth pastor look but he hasn't lost his emotionless stare. Sporting a goatee and dressed in a red jumpsuit, which signifies he's segregated from the rest of the jail population, he sat unexpressive from behind the counsel table during the first part of his sentencing hearing Friday. The second part – the actual sentencing – will come next month … [Read more...] about ‘This went on for awhile’: Two new victims speak in Ronnie Gorton sentencing hearing
‘He preyed on the flock’: Gorton found guilty on all counts
[metaslider id=2771] Former Atoka pastor Ronnie Gorton and his father, Bob, embraced in the hallway before walking in to listen to the verdict. As each guilty verdict was read – two counts of exploitation of a minor, two counts of contributing to a minor, two counts of furnishing alcohol to minors, seven counts of sexual battery by an authority figure, 10 counts of statutory … [Read more...] about ‘He preyed on the flock’: Gorton found guilty on all counts
‘It just never stopped’: Ronnie Gorton victim testifies he underwent daily abuse
Every single night. That’s how often the victim in the first of Ronnie Gorton’s three cases said he endured being sexually abused. “It just never stopped,” he said. The abuse began the day he moved into Gorton's Drummonds home and, said the teenager, intensified over the next year and a half. He testified Gorton, who was then the pastor of The Awakening Church in Atoka, used … [Read more...] about ‘It just never stopped’: Ronnie Gorton victim testifies he underwent daily abuse
Ronnie Gorton’s former best friend testified he confessed to molestation
Ronnie Gorton sat emotionless behind the counsel table Monday – in a suit and tie this time, instead of jeans and a t-shirt – while witnesses each took a turn on the stand. One-by-one the state's witnesses shared pieces of the story which led to Gorton's indictment for sexually assaulting teenagers. The victim's great aunt said there were red flags and she asked the victim to … [Read more...] about Ronnie Gorton’s former best friend testified he confessed to molestation
