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 18, 2006 previous day's entry
DAY 6: STATE CONCLUDES ITS CASE AGAINST FOSTER PARENT
By Erik A. Cooper
WARNING: Some readers may find the content of this story disturbing. Discretion is advised.
The criminal trial of former foster parent Ronald William Shelton, accused of nine counts of child molestation and aggravated child molestation, resumed today in its second week. Shelton, 57, is accused of multiple acts of child sexual abuse involving two of his former foster children during a five year period. Many family members and friends of Shelton packed into rows of benches seated directly behind Shelton to show their support. No one from Georgia’s child welfare agency has appeared at trial in support of Shelton. He has received no assistance from the agency with his defense.
The hearing began today with continuation of last weeks’ cross examination of Gwinnett County Police Detective Abercrombie by Defense Attorney Douglas N. Peters. Peters showed jurors Abercrombie’s videotaped interview of alleged victim Emma, then age 15, who was questioned inside the Gwinnett County police department headquarters. On the tape, Emma appeared at ease, often smiling throughout the hour-plus interview, as she told the detective and a child welfare agency investigator graphic details of alleged acts of molestation perpetrated by Shelton. Jurors listened intently and often wrote down details of their observations on yellow legal pads fastened to clipboards.
During his cross examination, Peters questioned Abercrombie’s interview skills, asking why Abercrombie failed to ask Emma about the supposed murder-suicide plot unfolding at her high school after Emma mentioned it during the interview. Emma had told investigators “There’s no connection whatsoever” between her involvement in helping the purported suicide plot planner and her reporting child sexual abuse allegations against Shelton. In the video, Emma told investigators she told her adoptive mother “everything she wanted to know” about the molestations. Emma explained she was 6 years old when the molestations began, and continued to suffer at the hands of Shelton while living in his foster home until she was 11. As the interview lingered on, Emma told investigators, “I never should have told.”
When asked about the first time she felt “uncomfortable” around Ronnie Shelton, Emma told investigators it was about age 7. When asked when was the first time the molestations occurred, Emma replied, “It happened so often…I don’t remember when it started.” Peters spent a great deal of time questioning Abercrombie about the likelihood of Shelton molesting Emma in an open family room with easy and immediate access from many bedrooms filled with other children, and the home’s entrance. Emma described other incidents of molestations, including contact between she and Shelton in his truck while parked in their church’s parking lot, contact at the Shelton’s Lake Oconee cottage, and inside a shed in the family’s own back yard. Emma indicated Lynn Shelton, the defendant’s wife, had no knowledge of the molestations.
In providing you this story, we have purposefully omitted from publication graphic details of the allegations levied against Shelton.
State Witness Mary Thatcher – Gwinnett Sexual Assault Center
After making her disclosure of child molestation allegations to police, Emma was taken to the Gwinnett Sexual Assault Center for a sexual assault evaluation.
Assistant District Attorney Tracie Hobbs began direct examination of expert witness Mary Thatcher, a nurse with the Gwinnett Sexual Assault Center. Hobbs presented Thatcher as an expert in forensic pathology for testimony during the trial. Peters objected to the witness’s role as an expert in forensic pathology, claiming Thatcher was not a doctor and her training and experience were too broad. The judge called both attorneys to the bench for a quick sidebar. Judge Hamil, recognizing the issues raised by both attorneys were complicated and required further inquiry, dismissed the jury for lunch and ordered the parties back by 1 p.m. After nearly two hours of both lawyers arguing their points before the court, Judge Hamil allowed the witness to testify as an expert in child sexual assault examinations.
Returning to the witness stand, Thatcher described for jurors the process of handling alleged victims of child sexual abuse. Thatcher explained medical practitioners use certain tools, such as a culpascope, to examine inside body cavities to detect injured tissues and scarring consistent with evidence of sexual abuse. In Emma’s case, Thatcher said her investigation was consistent with the allegations Emma made. Thatcher claimed Emma’s examination revealed no scarring or other tissue damage. The consistency of Thatcher’s findings concluded that no residual evidence of scarring or other tissue damage is equally consistent with the alleged victim’s allegations as would be evidence of scarring, lesions or other evidence. Under cross examination, defense attorney Doug Peters was able to get Thatcher to acknowledge the absence of physical evidence is equally as consistent with allegations of child molestation as they are inconsistent.
Sergeant C. L. Clemmons and the Ninth Count
Gwinnett County police detective sergeant C.L. Clemmons testified this afternoon regarding his interview of alleged victim Ryan and his brother Michael. Clemmons, an 18-year veteran, testified his interview of alleged victim Ryan was also consistent with the allegations of child sexual abuse. Clemmons told jurors that Ryan explained he was forced to commit a single act of sodomy on the defendant. Clemmons said Ryan never told anyone at first, then told his brother and dismissed the incident as a joke. Recognizing the seriousness of the accusations, Ryan’s adoptive mother brought him to police.
Identifying Reasonable Doubt
The jury seated for the State of Georgia v. Ronald William Shelton consists of 14 total jurors – six men, eight women, 10 whites, two blacks, one Hispanic and one Asian. The defense attorney’s objective in this case is to raise as much reasonable doubt as possible, convincing jurors they cannot convict Shelton with so many inconsistencies. The state has maintained a strong case, but has lost ground with cross examinations by Peters.
The state rested its case this afternoon. Having failed to provide any evidence supporting allegations in Count Four of the Indictment, assistant district attorney agreed with the court’s decision to drop the charges. Defense Attorney Douglas Peters is prepared to begin his case for the jury tomorrow. Peters announced he will submit a Motion for Directed Verdict, allowing the court to dismiss all charges against Shelton and conclude the trial instantly on the basis that the state failed to prove their case. Judge Hamil said he would take the matter up tomorrow morning. The trial is now in the hands of the defendant and his counsel.
What’s coming up?
Don’t miss our coverage of the Trial of the Child Molestation Case. On September 19, Defense Attorney Doug Peters will begin the defense presentation. Many witnesses are scheduled to appear.
Learn more about this true life trial of the child molestation case by checking this Web site daily and clicking on each day’s new link.
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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