Inside the Courtroom
Trial of the Child Molestation Case
WARNING: Some readers may find the content of this story disturbing. Discretion is advised.
On Sept. 11, while our country mourns the fifth anniversary of our nation's worst domestic tragedy, another domestic tragedy will unfold in a suburban Atlanta courtroom. Former foster parent Ronald William Shelton will be put on trial before the Superior Court of Gwinnett County, Ga., for molestation of two of his foster children.
The allegations are grim. The State of Georgia accuses Shelton of nine counts of child molestation and aggravated child molestation. Eight of the counts include sexual acts between Ronnie Shelton and a young girl. The remaining count includes a sexual act with a young boy.
Fostering Families Today is undertaking a unique opportunity to share the story of a real life foster parent on trial for allegations of child sexual abuse. Each day, Fostering Families Today through an experienced, knowledgeable, former foster parent, Erik Cooper, will bring to you a summary of actual trial events, including the jury selection process, opening statements of both the prosecutor and defense, victim and witness testimony, closing arguments and, of course, the verdict. The intent is not to sensationalize or exploit the life-changing events of this legal process. View this trial as a classroom, where we will identify in layman's terms, the legal procedure and terminology commonly used in the courtroom to enhance your understanding of the process as it unfolds.
We strongly recommend reader discretion of this story. Some readers may be offended by the content. Details of the accusations against Shelton may be considered graphic and disturbing to some readers. Please do not allow any child to read our coverage of this trial.
Coverage of this case will be objective and impartial. Neither this publication nor this writer will claim the innocence or guilt of Ronnie Shelton. Instead, as our readers, you will be provided fair and balanced coverage of the daily courtroom activities. Both Fostering Families Today and I are excited about this unique opportunity to share with you, trial of the child molestation case.
Fostering Families Today will provide daily updates of courtroom testimony available at www.adoptinfo.net. Upon conclusion of the trial, Fostering Families Today will publish a complete story of Trial of the Child Molestation Case. |
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September 22, 2006 previous day's entry
DAY 10: JURY RETURNS VERDICT
By Erik A. Cooper
WARNING: Some readers may find the content of this story disturbing. Discretion is advised.
As I drove to the Gwinnett County Justice and Administration Center, several things caught my attention along the way. A man with a bright morning smile stood on the corner of a high-traffic intersection with a chalkboard sign reading,“2 Obey is Faith.” I wondered if former foster parent Ronald William Shelton, awaiting the verdict in his eight-count child molestation criminal trial, also saw the man’s sign this morning. I noticed the skies above were grey and overcast, threatening a violent storm or at least rain today. Yesterday’s skies were clear of any clouds and ocean blue – a perfect day.
I entered the courthouse thinking of my own fate only 18 months earlier when I was awaiting my verdict. I, too, was accused of nine counts of child molestation involving six of my former foster children. My hands began to tremble. I felt a bead of sweat roll down the back of my neck, behind my ear, and into my shirt collar. My heart began to race. I took a moment to rest on the concrete bench, watching the familiar faces of Shelton’s supporters, people who’d attended every day of this 10-day trial, pass me by and smile.
I settled my nerves and headed for the courthouse door. Once through the security checkpoint, I took a seat away from Shelton’s friends and family waiting outside the courtroom for any news from the jury.
Jury Deliberations Begin Anew
Following powerful closing arguments from both Assistant District Attorney Tracie Hobbs and Defense Attorney Doug Peters, the jury was handed the case against Ronald William Shelton for deliberations at 11:45 a.m. yesterday afternoon. However, the jury foreperson sent a disturbing note to Judge R. Timothy Hamil, advising him of a problem in the jury deliberation room.
Judge Hamil, clearly baffled by an apparent uprising, called the jury foreperson before the court and both attorneys to explain the riff. Judge Hamil closed the courtroom to allow open discussion from the foreperson. Apparently, another juror had suddenly disclosed during a silent vote that he had been molested as a child and never told anyone. The juror reportedly tried to influence the votes of other jurors, telling them that since he had never told anyone until now, in his 50s, it was feasible that Emma and Ryan did not disclose their abuse until sometime into their teenage years. Upon review of the attorney’s and Judge Hamil’s notes taken during voir dire, it was discovered that the juror in question never disclosed his alleged child molestation when asked the question specifically. Therefore, since the juror lied in his voir dire answers, Judge Hamil ruled he would remove the juror from the jury and call in the first alternate juror. Judge Hamil admonished the juror for his conduct, and before the assembled jury, advised the jury that deliberations must begin all over again so as to include the alternate juror who could not previously participate.
This morning, the alternate juror returned to join the jury in their deliberations of the case. The jury remained sequestered in the jury deliberation room, pondering the evidence and testimony admitted before them during the trial. The jury asked to watch the videotaped police investigation interview of Emma and accused child molester Ronald William Shelton again. Judge Hamil closed the courtroom to allow the jury to privately view the videos again.
A Moment with the Defendant
Ronnie Shelton chatted among his family and friends outside the courtroom. Shelton approached me and asked, “I’ve got a pretty good feeling about it. How do you feel about it?” I shared with Shelton my confidence in his defense, but noted his defense could have been improved with questioning of Emma by Peters regarding multiple photographs of Emma and her brothers’ participation in Shelton family events, such as Christmas, birthday parties, and special occasions. I told Shelton that Peters should have asked Emma if she could recall any of the events, and to pinpoint whether or not any of her alleged molestations occurred on or around the time of these events. I seriously doubted that Emma, unprepared for such a question, could have positively identified specific allegations of her alleged molestations by Shelton through matching the occurrences to the photographic hallmark timeline. Shelton agreed.
Shelton told me he spent more than $252,000 for his criminal defense – all of his retirement savings. He sold his house and he and his wife of 35 years, Lynn, were likely to move into his mother-in-law’s home. Shelton was due to retire from his job with Avon Corporation, from a position he’d held for more than 31 years, on October 1. Lynn Shelton told me they didn’t have but 34 cents left in their checking account. When Ronnie and I spoke of the children who’d accused him of molesting them, tears began to swell in Ronnie’s eyes. “I loved those kids,” Shelton said. “I still do.” Remembering my own love for my foster children, I fought back sharing my own tears with Shelton’s, but lost my efforts.
Ronnie Shelton’s brother, who did not identify himself, was visibly upset while the jury was deliberating. Ronnie’s brother said, “I don’t know how to feel about all this. My nerves are just frayed.” I could tell Ronnie’s brother feared he may lose Ronnie forever.
Shelton, together with 20 of his family members, friends and co-workers, stood in a circle holding hands and saying a prayer for Ronnie’s acquittal. Everyone knew if Shelton was convicted on just one count, he would likely spend the rest of his life in prison. Shelton paced the waiting area nervously, reciting portions of his trial with friends and loved ones, professing his innocence again and again.
The Verdict Is In
After nearly six hours of deliberations, the jury of 12 returned its verdict in the matter of State of Georgia vs. Ronald William Shelton at 3:37 p.m. this afternoon.
Shelton returned to the defendant’s chair, surrounded by Peters and Peter’s legal assistant by his side. Shelton’s supporters gathered together in the seating area directly behind the defendant’s table. Accuser Emma Morgan returned to the courtroom with her adoptive parents, Melissa and Jack Morgan, and other family members. Ryan Morgan did not attend. Hobbs sat alone at the prosecutor’s table while several investigator’s and staff members from the District Attorney’s office filed in to hear the verdict read. Seven Sheriff’s Deputies stood throughout the courtroom, several directly near Shelton, while others maintained positions at various strategic points.
The jury was returned to their seats inside the jury box. Jurors avoided any eye contact with Shelton or his supporters, carrying only blank looks on their faces while giving no clues of their decisions. Judge R. Timothy Hamil asked the jury foreperson if the jury had reached a verdict. “We have your Honor,” the foreperson responded. Judge Hamil asked the foreperson to hand the folded verdict to the bailiff. Judge Hamil unfolded the verdict and read both pages, studying the jury’s findings for each of the eight counts of aggravated child molestation and child molestation.
Judge Hamil announced the verdict one count at a time. “We the jury, find the defendant, Ronald William Shelton, not guilty of count one of the indictment,” Judge Hamil said. Sighs of relief were heard, but tension remained as all seven remaining verdicts were due. One by one, Judge Hamil continued to read each verdict. “We the jury, find the defendant, Ronald William Shelton, not guilty of count two of the indictment.” Count three, count five, count six, count seven, count eight and count nine were all “not guilty.” Count four of the indictment was removed when Emma testified the alleged crime never happened.
Upon reading the final jury verdict, Lynn Shelton threw her arms up into the air, reaching toward the ceiling and yelled, “Thank you Jesus!” Judge Hamil admonished Ronnie’s wife for her outburst and told her such outbursts were “inappropriate.” Emma and her family quickly left the courtroom with no sign of emotion or response to the verdicts.
Ronnie Shelton turned around to face his supporters, tears streaming down his face, his eyes welled up. Peters put his arm around Shelton to congratulate him. Shelton began to wail in happiness and relief. Overwhelmed by Shelton’s reaction, Peter’s legal assistant began to openly cry. Shelton’s supporters cried together, hugging each other while Shelton’s three grown sons cried too.
In a startling announcement, Hobbs rose from her chair and asked Judge Hamil to poll the jurors. Polling jurors is typically done only when a defendant is found guilty. A defense attorney would ask the court to poll jurors to make certain each and every jury voted without influence or duress, cast their vote as recorded, and did not wish to change their vote. Judge Hamil, twisting his facial expressions with great distortion, looked puzzled at Hobbs and asked her to repeat her request.
Upon requesting that jurors be polled, Shelton, overcome by the emotions and stress of the event, told his attorney “I can’t breathe” and “My chest hurts,” just before grabbing his chest and falling out of his chair and to the floor. Peters and his legal assistant raced to help him. Shelton’s wife and sons ran to his aide, only to be stopped by Sheriff’s deputies and ordered back to their seats. Jurors looked on in amazement and appeared uncertain if Shelton’s collapse was staged or real. Judge Hamil rose from his seat and paced at the bench, seemingly unsure what to do. Judge Hamil ordered the jury out of the courtroom and back into the deliberation room. Judge Hamil called the court to order while Shelton remained on the floor. Shelton’s family and supporters began to pray, asking Jesus to help Ronnie survive this event. Judge Hamil ordered everyone out of the courtroom and into the waiting room.
Several minutes later, Judge Hamil returned the court to order and asked everyone to return to the courtroom next door while paramedics and Sheriff’s deputies continued to assist Shelton. Judge Hamil returned the jury to the courtroom and prepared to conclude the trial on the record, without the defendant present. Prior to resuming the trial, Hobbs withdrew her request to poll the jury. With her request withdrawn, Judge Hamil thanked the jury for their service and dismissed them. The trial of Ronald William Shelton was concluded.
Shelton Receives Medical Care
Ronnie Shelton walked into the Gwinnett County courthouse for his criminal trial, but he did not walk out. Shelton was wheeled out by paramedics on a stretcher and taken to the hospital with his wife. Shelton’s family and friends continued to revel in Ronnie’s acquittal and celebrated with hugs.
Shelton’s defense attorney, Doug Peters, made a small speech to Shelton’s family and friends in the waiting area. Peters, with tears in his eyes and choked up, told everyone how each of these trials takes an emotional toll on him, that he leaves a piece of himself with each case. Peters explained the top five prisons in Georgia are full of falsely accused child molesters who did not have the resources to build a defense like Shelton’s, who were convicted simply on the basis of the child’s outcry and no physical evidence. Peters vowed to continue his work to prevent future defendants from being convicted of these crimes.
I arrived at the Gwinnett Medical Center after 4:30 p.m. I visited with Shelton at his emergency room bed, congratulating him on the verdict. Shelton, feeling much better and calmed after the emotional impact of his verdict, repeated the financial toll this case took on his life. Shelton claimed he was left with virtually nothing.
When asked what he and his family planned to do now that this trial was finally over, Shelton’s oldest son, Benjamin Shelton, said, “We’re planning to go on an Alaskan cruise.”
Coming soon…
Fostering Families Today magazine will publish a feature story, Trial of the Child Molestation Case, in its November / December 2006 issue. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to read full coverage of this trial written by Erik A. Cooper, who was also accused of nine counts of child molestation and tried in the same county and by the same District Attorney’s office in 2005. Like Shelton, Cooper was also acquitted of all counts. Subscribe to Fostering Families Today to make sure you receive your copy of this story.
Have a question?
Did our coverage of this trial exclude something you find very important? Email us at editor@adoptinfo.net, or louis@adoptinfo.net to ask us your question. We will share your thought with our writer, Erik A. Cooper, and post his response to your question in our blog soon.
Share your opinion!
Your opinion counts! With your input, we can all learn from this coverage. What do you think? Share your opinion by e-mailing us at louis@adoptinfo.net or editor@adoptinfo.net.
About the writer:
For more information about Erik Cooper’s personal experience as a foster parent accused of child molestation, visit his website at www.ErikCooper.com. You may also read Cooper’s personal story written exclusively for Fostering Families Today online at this link:
http://www.fosteringfamiliestoday.com/FFT/fft_web/ci_spotlight_beanId_2837.html.
DISCLAIMER: Trial of a Child Molestation Case is a true story involving actual events and the people involved. Whenever possible, the actual names of those involved in the case have been used. All minor children’s names have been changed to protect them. All information is available through access of public records, including actual courtroom testimony, transcripts, and other written documentation. Some information may not be available under seal of the court.
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